ARIZONA

(Ind. Sp. meaning ‘few springs’ or ‘silver bearing’), a state of the Union, N. America, situated between Utah on the N., New Mexico on the E., Mexico on the S., and California and Nevada on the W. It ranks fifth among the U.S. with a gro area of 113,020 sq. m., 100 sq. m. of this being water. The state is divided diagonally into two parts by the Mexican Cordilleras. The northern region consists of a plateau, broken by high mountains, which in the San Francisco Range attain a height of over 12,700 ft. In the S. and S,W. are wide, desert plains watered by the Salt and the Gila Rs. The Colorado and its tributary, the Little Colorado, water the N.W. region. The annual precipitation ranges from 1-10 in. in the W. and from 10-25 in. in the E. Few crops are grown without irrigation in the lowlands, the climate being dry and clear, suitable for astronomical observations, and the soil unproductive. Several large reservoirs have been constructed, the most notable being the Roosevelt dam. The most important crop is alfalfa, but wheat, barley, corn, etc., and semi-tropical fruit are also cultivated. Farming is carried on to a great extent. Cattle and sheep are reared on the pasture lands, | and the forests (13,668,366 acres) pro= vide good timber. The state is rich in mineral deposits, the greatest output being in copper, gold, silver, and lead, while granite, limestone, asbestos, and quicksilver are also worked in the state. The chief industry is the smelting and refining of copper, the value of its products amounting to $20,565,000 in 1921. In the production of Copper Arizona ranks first among the states. Enormous subterranean caves, rivalling the mammoth caves of Kentucky, were discovered in 1909. The country was discovered by Marcos de Niza, a Spaniard, in 1539, rumors of its wealth having reached Spain through the explorer, de Vaca. In the following year Vasquez de Corona do explored the country, but the earliest settlements were made by Spanish mi ionaries at Tucson and — Tubac about 1772. Arizona remained under the influence of Spain till 1821, when it achieved its independence. In 1848 it was ceded to the U.S.A., and was organized as a territory in 1863, becoming a state of the Union on Feb. 14, 1912. Its population in 1920 was 334,162. The capital is Phoenix (pop. 1920, 29,053). Other cities of importance are Tuscan (20,292), Bisbee (9,205), Globe (7,044). See Mar Unirep STaT .