In this year leading up to Arizona's centennial, Feb. 14, 2012, we'll reprint a story or excerpts each day from the Arizona Daily Star or Tucson Citizen archives.
Aug. 22, 1912
Carl Hayden has introduced the following bill in the house of representatives for the appropriation of $5,000 for the improvement of the ostrich industry in the United States.
The farmer's first thought is good soil and plenty of it; that of the ostrich rancher is climate. This is the most important feature in the successful raising of the ostrich.
The climate must be warm and dry with plentiful allowance of sunshine similar to that of Africa, the home of the ostrich. The climate conditions in Yuma valley are ideal for ostrich farming; every condition is favorable.
One acre of alfalfa will pasture four grown birds the year round and where is the country so blessed with green pasture throughout the year as is Yuma valley?
A full grown bird yields from $60 to $80 worth of plumes every eight months; the value of such a bird is $400. Pretty good interest on the investment?
The chicks hatched in an incubator thrive especially well in the warm, dry, even temperature of Yuma valley and undoubtedly ostrich farming is destined to become a great Yuma industry and should command the attention of everyone.
This is a good bill and should be of considerable local interest.
Yuma valley has two good ostrich farms and with the proper encouragement will soon have the Salt River valley ostrich farms looking after their laurels.
- Arizona Daily Star
The Sundt Companies, O'Rielly Chevrolet, Research Corporation for Science Advancement, Sam Levitz Furniture, the University of Arizona, Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., Rosemont Copper, Tucson Realty & Trust. Co., Jack Furrier Tire & Auto Care, Walgreens and Carondelet Health Network are sponsors of the Star's Arizona Centennial project.
