1940: Arizona

Area and Population.

The Copper State, more frequently called the Grand Canyon State, ranks fifth in size among the states of the Union, with an area of 113,956 sq. mi. The population, according to the 1940 census, numbered 499,261, an increase over 1930 of 14.6 per cent. By this substantial increase in population the state becomes assured of a second Representative in Congress in 1943. The largest cities are Phoenix, the capital, 65,414; and Tucson, 36,818. Prescott now has 6,018; and Bisbee 5,853.

Agriculture.

The total area of irrigated lands in 1940, watered by means of reservoirs in the Colorado, Salt and Gila rivers, was 757,703. Cotton production amounted to 197,000 bales, including 37,000 bales of American-Egyptian long staple. During the fall and winter season of 1939-40, there were shipped 4,582 carloads of cantaloupes, honey dews and honey balls; 12,145 carloads of lettuce, 4,615 carloads of grapefruit, and 844 carloads of oranges. Alfalfa seed, flax seed and beet seed were major products.

Considerable uneasiness was felt during 1940 by farmers dependent upon irrigation, particularly in the central valleys, because of the continuing deficiency in precipitation. The average for the state over a period of forty-five years was 13.89 inches, which has not been reached during the past several years. Substantial rains and snow in the northern mountains, during the latter part of 1940, partially removed the fears concerning 1941 farming operations. The practicability of bringing water from the Colorado River to the central valleys is now being considered.

Despite the low rainfall, range conditions were generally good in 1940. On January 1, 1941, ranges were occupied by 898,000 head of cattle, and 798,000 sheep. The 1940 wool clip was 4,841,000 pounds.

Mineral Products.

Arizona continued during 1940 in its role as the nation's leading producer of metals. Final figures for 1940 are not yet available, but in 1939 the production of copper (in which the state ranks first) was 524,224,000 pounds, valued at $54,519,295, as against 421,594,000 pounds, valued at $41,316,212 in 1938. Gold production was 316,453 fine ounces, valued at $11,075,855. Silver totalled 7,824,004 fine ounces. Lead production was 21,542,000 pounds. The total for zinc was 13,422,000 pounds. The estimated value of Arizona's mineral production since 1860 is $3,156,568,637.

The largest producers of Arizona copper are carrying out extensive improvement programs. At Douglas, smelter town of the Phelps Dodge Corporation, enlargements are being made to the reduction works at a cost of more than $2,000,000. At Morenci, as part of a long-time development program involving an expenditure of $40,000,000, the 20,000,000-ton rock and earth capping of an entire mountain covering a vast ore body is being removed. It is estimated that from the pit, 6,000 ft. long by 4,000 ft. wide, which will be formed by later steamshovel mining operations, 300,000,000 tons of copper ore will be removed. Eventually 560,000,000 tons of ore and waste — 100,000,000 tons more than was taken from the Panama Canal — will be excavated.

In the production of mercury Arizona came to the fore in 1940, producing about 5,200 flasks, or almost one-third as much as was produced in the entire United States in 1938.

Highways and Travel.

Highway extensions and improvements, for which purpose the sum of $7,735,418.17 was available in 1939-40, brought the state system of highways to 3,640 miles.

Out-of-state guests were entertained by tourist hotels and guest ranches during 1940 in greater numbers than in any previous year. Hundreds of these guests visited the fifteen national parks and monuments which embrace many natural scenic wonders and interesting prehistoric ruins.

Wildlife.

As disclosed by a wildlife survey conducted by the National Forest service, Arizona had in 1940: 68,000 deer, including the most notable herd of mule deer in the southwest, 5,100 antelope, 4,300 elk, 7,100 peccary, 220 bighorn sheep, 860 black bear, and 1 lone grizzly. There were also 261 buffalo, the only unfenced herd of American bison. At the annual hunt, held in January 1941 under the auspices of the State Game and Fish Department, permits were issued to kill about sixty of these. Of predatory animals, including mountain lions, coyotes, and bobcats, 3,835 were destroyed in 1940 by hunters of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Power Development.

The tremendous potentialities for power production of the Colorado River, wholly within Arizona, are arousing renewed interest by reason of the returns realized from the great power development at Boulder Dam. These are estimated at $4,500,000 for the fiscal year 1940-41, although only nine of seventeen generators have been installed. The subject is receiving the attention of the incoming state administration, and, according to announcement, steps will be taken for the creation of a state power authority.

Education.

Arizona education was maintained at a high standard in 1940. Enrollment figures for 1939-40 showed 87,960 pupils in grade schools, 22,245 in high schools, and 1,066 in junior colleges. Total expenditures for the maintenance of elementary schools, during the school year 1939-40, amounted to $5,883,360.76, and for secondary schools $2,818,693.45. On the secondary level much emphasis was placed on vocational education. In the elementary schools, 2,418 teachers were employed at salaries ranging from $900 to $2,852, and in secondary schools 795 at salaries from $780 to $3,072.

Banking.

Business conditions, on the whole, were good. Bank deposits increased by $6,389,212.19, to a total of $92,902,885.54; loans by $3,481,885.95 to a total of $34,483,457.97; resources by $6,388,040.74 to a total of $101,155,885.65.

Taxes.

Sales tax receipts during the fiscal year 1939-40 showed an increase of 3.57 per cent, to a total of $4,033,142.58, and luxury tax receipts (on liquor and tobacco) an increase of 15.7 per cent, to a total of $1,491,317.80. Gasoline tax receipts, used for the construction and maintenance of highways, totaled $4,618,626.70, an increase of $343,651.79. During the year ended September 30, 1940, automobile licenses, the proceeds of which also go to the highway fund, were issued to the number of 147,090, as against 138,152 during the previous twelve months.

Defense Preparations.

At Fort Huachuca, an army post in the foothills of the Huachuca mountains close to the Mexican boundary, a $3,000,000 program of enlargement is under way. From a post of 1,300 Negro soldiers of the 25th Infantry, its capacity is to be increased to 6,000. A program for the establishment and enlargement of fifty-eight airports is also under way. This program includes a bomber base at Tucson, where sixty bombing ships and 3,320 officers and men will be stationed; an advanced training school for fliers west of Glendale, where 2,200 men and officers will be stationed and 200 to 250 students given advanced training; and an army civilian training field north of Glendale, where 200 to 400 students will be given elementary training by a private air-transport company.

Political and Legislative Matters.

In the primary election (September 10) Governor R. T. Jones was opposed for the Democratic party renomination by Sidney P. Osborn, a native son and Phoenix newspaper publisher who had made the race twice previously. The vote was 54,737 for Osborn, 49,466 for Jones, the other candidates trailing far behind. The major upset of the primary election was the overwhelming defeat of the veteran United States Senator Henry Fountain Ashurst, by Judge Ernest W. McFarland, a superior-court judge of the small county of Pinal.

Of six proposed amendments to the state Constitution which appeared on the ballot at the November 5 election, these three were approved: authorizing ten-year leases on state lands, exemption of irrigation district works from taxation, providing for uniform taxation of automobiles. An initiated measure increasing state aid for education was also adopted.

State Officials.

Governor, Sidney P. Osborn; Secretary of State, Harry M. Moore; Auditor, Ana Frohmiller; Superintendent of Public Instruction, E. D. Ring; Mine Inspector, Tom C. Foster.

United States Senators:

Carl Hayden, Ernest W. McFarland.