1942: Arizona

Area and Population.

Arizona, the Grand Canyon state, is the youngest state in the Union. It was admitted Feb. 13, 1912. It ranks fifth in area, with 113,909 sq. mi.; and forty-fourth in population with 499,261 inhabitants. Phoenix, the capital and principal city, has a population of 65,414, Tucson, 36,819; Douglas now has 8,623; Prescott, 6,018; Bisbee, 5,853, and Flagstaff, 5,080. Of the state's white population of 426,792, approximately one-fifth are of Spanish-Mexican descent. Other racial groups are Indians, 55,076; Negroes, 14,993; Chinese, 1,449; and Japanese, 632.

Education.

With a school-age population of 193,006, the latest available figures show an enrollment in Arizona's 344 elementary and 59 high schools respectively of 88,565 and 22,864 pupils. A total of 3,270 teachers receive a maximum salary of $3,275 and a minimum of $780 — an average for elementary teachers of $1,420, and for high-school teachers of $1,890.

Under the terms of an initiative measure approved by the voters at the 1940 general election, providing for a state levy of $65 per common school pupil and $95 per high school student, practically the entire cost of operation of elementary and high schools is now borne by the state. Highlights of the educational program for 1941-42 were rehabilitation work and vocational training for war industries.

Minerals.

Production of 665,500,000 pounds of copper, or about 35 per cent of the nation's total, in 1941, and a greatly accelerated output in 1942, won for nine of the largest copper-producing units an October award of the Army-Navy War Production Board 'E' pennant. The outstanding development in the copper industry for the year was the inauguration of full-scale operations at the mammoth open-pit development of the Phelps Dodge Corporation at Morenci. Abandoned as a major underground producer ten years ago, when the high-grade ore was exhausted, mountains were later removed to uncover a quarter-billion tons clay deposit containing one per cent copper. The total value of minerals mined in 1941, including copper, silver, gold, lead and zinc, was $100,000,000.

Agriculture.

Despite great difficulty in securing farm labor, agriculture kept step in 1942 with the war tempo. Against a total of 181,000 bales of cotton in 1941, the estimated production in 1942 was 220,000 bales, including 59,000 bales of Pima (Egyptian) long-staple used in the manufacture of parachutes, parachute harness, barrage balloons and many items of war matériel. Alfalfa hay, a leading farm product, was valued at $4,000,000, and alfalfa seed at $1,000,000. About 3,000 tons of sugar-beet seed were harvested. The spring crop of vegetables totaled more than 10,000 carloads of lettuce, more than 5,000 carloads of cantaloupes and honey dew melons, and 1,000 carloads of carrots and other bunch vegetables. For the 1941-42 season, ended July 31, the production of grapefruit was 3,196,083 packed boxes, and of oranges approximately a half million.

On the farms, ranches and ranges, as of January 1942, there were about 1,000,000 head of beef cattle, 50,000 milk cows, 53,000 hogs, 70,000 chickens, 21,000 turkeys, 770,000 sheep, and 220,000 goats — in every instance an increase over the previous year. The wool clip for 1942 was 4,500,000 lb., and of mohair approximately 1,000,000.

Lumber.

The notable industries of the state include lumber. Arizona, the leading producer of softwood pine in the southern Rocky Mountains, had a 1941 output of above 130,000,000 board feet. The manufacture of airplane parts, and aluminum fabrication are among the younger industries.

Legislation.

A special session of the Legislature was held from April 6 to 25, to consider the war program proposed by the Governor. Of the twenty-four bills passed and approved by the chief executive, the most important dealt with the creation of a civilian defense board and council; curbing of war-time theft of rationed articles; setting speed limits on highways; provision of land for airports and fields; abatement of health menaces near military encampments. Of non-war measures, legislation for the benefit of the State Hospital for the insane was the principal item.

Events of the Year.

The outstanding events in Arizona in 1942 were related to the war effort. A number of important military establishments were set up and existing ones enlarged. Several plants for the manufacture of essential war matériel were erected and production begun. Extensive Japanese residential centers were located at Poston and Rivers, with populations of 18,000 and 15,000 respectively. Organizations of citizens were formed for the carrying on of activities embraced within the national defense program. The State Council of Defense, organized in 1941 by proclamation of the Governor, was provided with funds, and effectively organized.

The 1942 primary and general elections caused less than the usual excitement, due to war interests and the absence of many voters in the service. The primary election brought out 59 per cent of registered voters, and the general election but 50 per cent. For the governorship, Governor Sidney P. Osborn, incumbent, carried all counties over Jerrie W. Lee, his Republican opponent, and Charles R. Osburn, Prohibition candidate. A field of eighteen aspirants for two Democratic nominations for Representative in Congress was led by the incumbent Congressman John R. Murdock, and Richard F. Harless, both elected. Secretary of State Harry M. Moore, an unusually popular official, who had been elected to succeed himself for his third term, died suddenly on Nov. 20, following an emergency operation for appendicitis. His chief deputy, Dan E. Garvey, was appointed his successor.

Finances.

The state's financial condition, both private and public, was good in 1942. Deposits in the five national and seven state banks, as of June 30, marked an increase of more than 20 per cent, to $122,530,060.37. Business was on the up-grade, as reflected in increased revenue from the sales tax of 21 per cent, the luxury tax of 18 per cent, and the motor vehicle fuel tax of 10 per cent. Labor was profitably employed, as disclosed by a reduction in unemployment benefit payments of almost 50 per cent. State, county and municipal tax rates were substantially reduced: state rates, per $100 of property valuation, from $1.67 in 1941 to $1.26 in 1942; county rates an average of 25 per cent; and municipal rates proportionately. Total property valuations rose by $19,647,202, to $406,253,674. Legislative appropriations for the operation of the state government, and including institutions of higher learning, totalled $5,177,231.32. State appropriations for elementary and high schools was $6,130,255. Expenditures for highways, financed through motor-vehicle fuel and license taxes, amounted to $6,877,317.34, supplemented by $1,822,144.58 Federal aid. State expenditures for social welfare, including old-age assistance to 9,499 persons, amounted to $3,787,037.33.

State Officers.

Governor, Sidney P. Osborn; Secretary of State, Dan E. Garvey; Treasurer, James D. Brush; Auditor, Ana Frohmiller; Attorney-General, Joe Conway; Superintendent of Public Instruction, E. D. Ring.

United States Senators:

Carl Hayden, Ernest W. McFarland.