Fools’ Gold by Robert Sikorsky

“The name ‘Arizona', probably derived from the Papago and Pima Indian dialects, means ‘Little Spring.’ ‘Ari’ means small and ‘Zonac’ spring. But in reality, all the land of the Little Spring had to offer was heat and dust, sweat and wilderness, and even as late as 1862, when Arizona was pushing to become a territory, its population was estimated at a mere 2,401, and most of these people were described as ‘miners seeking adventure and wealth.’ Many in Arizona were those too weak or too broke to push on to California. Hindered by their inability to reach the alluring gold fields to the west, they were forced to eke out an existence in the barren country: prospecting, lumbering, merchanting and promoting. Nevertheless, they laid the weak and wobbly foundation for what would someday become the fastest growing state in the union.”

-Robert Sikorsky, 1983