Arizona miner., 1864-08-24

II. vIEtpPLE no Fl. MOnAVE.


~ the Santa Ee Gazette, OF July "a. 1t Will be
remembered that Captain Enos accompanied
Major Willis to Fort Whipple, in December last,
for the purpose of exploring for wagon road
from the Walker mines to the Colorado
river. lie first examined the country towards
the mouth Of Williams Fork, and deemed it i'm
practicable, although his guide was evidently not
well informed Returning to near Fl Whpple,
he started for Fort Mohave, and thus gives his
impressions OF the road to that point
On the 29th Of December / returned to the
point where had crossed the road from Fl. Mo-
have. few light wagons had previously passed
over this route, which is known as the lritabo
trail celebrated Mohave chief of that name hav
ing been the first to conduct emigrants over it
with wagons. 1t was represented by those who
had travelled it as being an excellent one for wa
CONS, with an abundance of wood, water and
grass From this point until reaching what
Lieut.. Whippe calls Pueblo creek, distance of
twenty miles, the road passes over a mountain
Gus country, covered with thick growth OF &C.
dar. The road follows Pueblo creek to its
source passing through Aztec pass, then down
Williams Fork to near the base Of Cross noun
tain. After passing this mountain, the road
bears to the south towards Aguarias mountain,
crossing it TO the north Of the point where the
White Cliff creek fnds passage Crossing the
Big Sandy il follows the northwestern base OF
the Cerbat range for about fifteen miles then
bears to the north striking Beale's wagon road
at distance OF forty miles from Fort Mohave
at place known to emigrants as Railroad spring
From this point / followed Beale's wagon road
to Fort Mohave.
The road from Pueblo creek to Railroad
spring is good, with the exception Of about one
mile at the point where it leaves Williams Fork,
g. .la- A..
range At both these places a good road can
easily Be made. Grass is abundant near the
whole distance. Fuel is plenty until after eav-
ing the Aguarias mountain. Water along Will
hams Fork is found in holes, and / believe is
permanent nd in efficient quantities for the
aD.ms 0l ordinary trains. Tie longest distance
from water 70 water, twenty-five miles, is be-
tween White Cliff creek and the Hualapais
spring which is situated on Ile north western
slope Of the Cerbat range.
From RaIroad spring to Fort Mohave the
country almost o desert A few mesqui,
shrubs, cactus Spanish Bayouet and sage brush
constitute nearly all the vegetation seen, except
in the gOrges of the mountains. where few
cedars may De found. The road over the Blue
Ridge has very heavy grades, and in places quite
rough. On both sides it follows deep and SANDY
arroyos, which bear evidence of carrying muci
water at times considerable labor viii be re
quired to make this part of the road practicable
for heavily ioaded wagons.
At Silver creek, on the western slope of tht
Blue ridge and twelve miles from Fort Mohave
rich gold and silver leads have been discovered
Companies IN San Francisco have been organizes
70 work them. After leaving the Arroyo, or Sill
yer creek, the road to Fort Mohave is good ex
cept about Two miles of sand. BY the route
travelled, the distance from Fort Whpple
Fort MobaYe is l56 miles--see list of distances
This distance can be shortened from ten 10 f
teen miles by an expenditure of reasonab
amount Of labor. The rough and mountaiuoY
country which / passed over before reaching p
eblo creek can be avoided, and good road oil
tained BY going direct from Fort Whipple to Il
mouth Of its canon. | estimated the distance
be about eighteen miles from the Fort TO Il
point where this stream disappears beneath &
surface for the last time This, like all 9th
streams in this part of Arizona, rises and sin
at intervals. The labor of fifty men for six
days would make the road from Fort Mohave
Fort Whpple practicable for six mule teal
loaded with from 5000 to $500 pounds. r
road as l iound it compares favorably with /
roads ia the northern part of New Mexico.
The following is the table of distances
erred 10
Mi
From Fort Whip2le to CieBega, wood
water and grass Ia
0ienega 20 WALNUT Creek, water above
the road wood plenty, and grass, 7
Walnut Creek to Round Valley, water in