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accomplished in the latter half of the 19th century. The discovery of gold in California and subsequently in Arizona led to the establishment of numerous mineral enterprises. Mining activities continued at an increasing tempo until the drop in silver prices in 1893. The level of mineral activity has fluctuated since that time. Currently, certain segments of the industry are in some distress, but generally the industry is healthy and an important component of the economy. Farming and ranching activities expended concurrently with the growth of the mineral industry. The location of farms and early settlements was usually determined by the availability of water, irrigable land, and accessibility, or routes of transportation. Lands were initially irrigated by the simplest of rock or brush diversion structures, and ditches and canals. As the economy matured and higher and leas accessible land was developed, more complex and permanent irrigation structures were installed. The greater portion of the report area is devoted to the production of native forage for livestock, interspersed with areas of irrigated farms. The range areas are essentially wild landau valued chiefly for range livestock, wildlife, recreation, and as watersheds. The economy of the area has, of course, become more complex as it has expanded. Today major industrial, commercial, business, and military establishments contribute to the diversification of the area's economy. 10Epson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 8 bit, 14,286,848 byte