Climate.— Arizona is entirely within the arid region, but owing to the difference in alti tude of the northern and southern portions there in a wide range in temperature, as like wise n precipitation between the two sections. The average annual precipitation at Flagstaff since 1850 averaged 24.65 inches, that of Yuma 2.84 inches; while the mean temperature is 45° in the north and 69° in the south. The sandy plains of the southwestern part are the hottest region north of the Isthmus of Panama, in the shade being frequent in summer; but even in this lower area, owing to the dryness of the atmosphere, the heat is not very oppres sive in summer, while the winter climate is usually delightful. Heavy snows occur in the mountainous country of the north and sharp frosts are frequent even in the Salt and Gila valleys; but nowhere are the mountains per petually snow-capped. In recent years Arizona has become a popular resort for those suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis and catarrhal ailments, but notwithstanding the deaths of those who settle in Arizona when seriously af flicted with tuberculosis, the total death rate in 1914 was only 14.98. In 1913, out of 779 deaths from this cause, 538 cases had their origin outside the State.
Minerals and Arizona is rich in minerals and its mining industry is of prime importance. In 1915 it was first among the States in copper production, 459,972,295 pounds having been mined; it was fifth in silver (5,649,020 fine ounces, commercial value $2, 864,053), and fifth also in gold (201,531 fine ounces, commercial value $4,166,025). Of lead, 21,738,969 pounds were produced, valued at $1, 021,732, and of zinc (spelter) 8,428,526 pounds. There are also deposits of coal (as yet but little worked), fluorspar, mica, molybdenum, nickel ores, limestone, marble, granite, sandstone in limitless quantities, chalcedony, tungsten, tur quoise, vanadium, garnet (pyrope) and other minerals, and there are numerous hot and min eral springs. In 1915 Arizona ranked seventh in mineral products, the value being $91,541, 403.
Soil, Agriculture, Of the 838,400 acres in Arizona, 1,935,327 acres were cultivated in 1900 and 1,246,613 acres in 1910, a decrease of 35.6 per cent; farm property, however, increased in value from $29,993,847 to $75,123,970 during the decade, while the num ber of farms increased from 4,985 to 8,203, of which latter number 7,038 farms were free from mortgage. Only 1.7 per cent of the total land area was in farms in 1910. The valley lands are marvelously fertile, experiment dem onstrating that in the southern part, under fa vorable conditions, the yield per acre is 2,150 pounds for wheat, 4,000 to 5,000 pounds for potatoes, 12,300 pounds for tomatoes, 5,000 pounds for strawberries, 27,000 pounds for melons and 1,735 pounds for corn. Lack of
water has been more or less a hindrance to the development of the agricultural sections, but with the construction of storage reservoirs in recent years by the government, it is esti mated that a total of 10,000,000 acres will be reclaimed. In 1910, 320,051 acres were under irrigation. The staple crops are alfalfa, barley, corn, wheat sugar beets, green vegetables and orchard fruits and grapes. Experiments in the cultivation of Egyptian cotton haveproved successful, 6,500 acres having been picked in 1916; and tracts of alkali lands in the south, hitherto believed to be waste, are now being utilized largely by the State for date culture.
The mountains and mesas of the northern part are generally covered with nutritious grasses, forming excellent pasturage for cattle and sheep, while irrigated pastures in the south afford means of fattening for market. In 1910 there were 833,458 cattle, 1,227,864 sheep, 114,609 horses, 5,284 mules, 9,982 asses, 259, 396 goats and 18,512 swine. Fowls were valued at $1,545,966, bees at $104,374, and dairy prod ucts at $909,411. The wool production in 1909 was valued at $983,761 and mohair at $63,120. Of the total value of crops in the same year, 46.4 per cent was in hay and forage ($2,553, 228), and 28.6 per cent in cereals ($1,570,853). The value of all crops was $5,496,872, an in crease of 122 per cent in 10 years.
The southern plains and parts of the north have a dress of sagebrush, greasewood, yucca, cactus and other desert growths. Cottonwoods line almost every stream. Mesquite, the giant cactus or saguaro, paloverde, ironwood, Jeru salem thorn and other trees are indigenous to the southern plains, and vast mountain areas throughout Arizona are covered with pine, cedar, juniper and other valuable timber. An important lumbering industry has been devel oped in the vicinity of the San Francisco Mountains, but vast tracts of timber in this and other sections have been set aside by the government in the Kaibab, Coconino, Diade, Prescott, Sitgreaves, Tonto, Apache, Coronado, Garces, Chiricahua and other forest reserves.
Industry, Mining is the chief industry of Arizona and copper the chief metal mined, although considerable gold, silver and lead are also produced. (See above). In manu facturing Arizona holds no important place, ranking 42d among the States, but gaining an increase of 27.5 per cent in value of products in five years. In 1914 it had 321 manufactur ing establishments, representing an investment of $40,282,000, a product worth $64,068,000, and wage-earners numbering 6,888, with wages amounting to $6,221,000. In 1909 there were 251 producing mines and quarries, with 16,917 wage-earners and with products valued a $34, 217,651, of which sum $31,614,116 was in cop per.