Arizona miner., 1868-06-27
lFor the NIlnerl.
General DevinS Late Expedition Into the
 Heart of Eastern Arizona.

ot the carly explorers, eaver, W son, N"- ker and others, that the most attractive. best watcred and richest agricultural section of this Territory, lies east of the Verde. In the Tonto Basin, north and east of the Sierra
 Anches. streams of delicious water were found at intervals of from three to five miles,
 Springs were plenty, and one, the largest
 ever seen by any of the party, was estimated to have iiow of several hundred gallons per ! minute Tue basin of the spring holds eight ! hundred gallons and the whole surface was ! in commotion. It supplies the greater part | of the main branch of the east fork of the ! Verde. The divides of the creeks are high, ! but between them lie small fertile valleys. : The valley of Cherry creek, the largest west branch of the Salinas, is not equalled in beau ty or fertility by any portion of this Territory 1 heretofore settled IL is series of magnif- ! cent parks, surrounded by hills covered with
 excellent pine timber; the valley itself being dotted with juniper, oak and sugar maple. ] This valley is the northern limit of the gran
 te country. All north of this point is lime l stone or red sandstone. The bottom on the ] head of Tonto creek is also very fertile, and ! the Indians had commenced to farm there this
 Spring. The Salinas, above the point where
 it turns northward, appears to run through
 an impossible canyon in the mountain. Pa tient research, however, discovered number
 of places where it was practicable to cross it,
 even at points where the banks were nearly
 one thousand feet in height. East of the
 most easterly branch of the Salinas the coun-
 try changes materially in character. The
 divides are smoother and far more practca-
 be for wagons. the levels are much longer.
 and the creek bottoms more extensive and
 covered with the richest blue grass. From
 of the San Carlos, the country from east to
 west is as level as floor, while from north
 to south it slopes at an angle of about five
 degrees. IL is covered with excellent pine
 and juniper but not heavily enough to pre- vent luxuriant growth of grass. Nearly in
 the centre of this wooded plain stands an Aztec ruin which covers nearly an acre ot
 ground, and through the centre of which
 runs a stream of pure water Awagon road
 ascending the Mogolone at the head of Clear
 creek and following the divides could descend
 at this point with comparatively little labor
 Such road has now been commenced and , has nearly reached the summit at Clear creek
 As for the reckless stories of parties who /, aver that they can drive wagon, buggy, etc. n up the mountain, down it, or across it, tho y. General says they are simply "bosh" Tho
 road win have to be not only worked, but
 patiently, systematically and intelligently worked, to surmount the crest. follow the di . vide and descend the mountain with any a grade that will be practicable for wagon, a carrying three thousand pounds or more Neither ascent or descent is as practicable al '' was Grief Hill before the troops built th' '. road over it.
 At the eastern edge of the wooded platea, '. the country dcscends very rapidly to tn,
 Arroyo Colorado, which forms the head O
 the east branch of the San Carlos The wa
 ter is very pure and sweet, the blue grass 8 :. luxuriant that the horses scarcely stirred
 from the point where they commenced graz 
 The formation is mostly limestone Anothe
 Fork was passed, similar in character to tn first, but with wider bottoms, and scperate ;. from it and the main stream by low divide a. which was easily crossed. The main strear
 was struck at point near the forks of tn
 river, and north of them. At this point tn at bottoms on each side are from quarter { - one-half mile in width; the valley proper, C it table land on each side of the bottom, a, about eight miles in width between the mour ts tains and lies mostly in grassy mesas. Tn $ stream has cut out its banks perpendicular h. to depth of eight and ten feet through D channel sixty feet in width, the water (Jun to lst,) was very cold and pure, about twent i. feet wide and two in depth. From the eas ct a smaller branch enters through q wide an in grassy bottom. The bottoms have heen e, 1 tensively cultivated at one time, ditches, an o- remains of former corn fields were found i # every direction, and several adobe house, l. but the stiffness of death reigned in tn pr valley. Not an Indian smoke could be see rt from the highest peaks, not foot of cart d had been turned, and the only Indian sign { " be seen was that of their families in one tra a leading to the head of the Prieia and Littl Is Colorado
 le Rations were now getting short, and th le shoes of men and horses worn out, many re the latter had to be shod with leather GU re from the saddle skirts and aparahoes. Horse