The weekly Arizona miner., 1869-11-20
Notes of a Trip to the Northward of
 Prescott.

l ''"" '""NN " "V NhlIe UT tue late pfOdpect-
 ing tour to the waters of the Little Colorado,
 or Flax River, as it is sometimes called. The
 object of the party of which was member
 in exploring that section of our Territory
 was to find areputed rich gulch, said to con
 tain the much-sought- for gold.
 Our party consisted of twenty three able
 bodied men, well mounted, armed and equip
 ped and whs led by Samuel c. Miller, pio-
 neer Arizonian. One of the party had been
 in the vicinity of the rich placers, aud was to
 act as our guide. We started with two
 months supplies to the man. The party left Prescott on the morning of the Sth oC Sep
 tember last, moved out to Willow Greek Val | ley, some five miles north of Prescott, and
 encamped, to properly adjust packs, etc.
 We then took the military road leading to
 the San Francisco mountain. Arrived at An
 teiope Springs on the evening of the 18th, a
 distance, from our starting point, of about
 ninety miles. The route travelled over was
 for the most part rocky and mountainous
 the rock being of that elasa known as nal
 Pais, or volcanic matter. The main range is
 covered with a splendid growth of pines Here we struck the Government road made
 in 1857 by Gen. Beale We also found the
 stakes driven at this point by Gen. Palmer,
 on his most southern survey for the 3jth par.
 allel railroad route. We followed the road
 and survey west to Leroux Springs, or, as
 Palmer named them, Christmas Springs,
 Hisfa of oI~ are situated immediately at the base of the
 San Francisco Mountain peaks, on the west ern slope. From these springs, person looking west, over what is called Presidents Park, can behold one of the finest mountain scenes in America. From Leroux Springs we travelled east of north nine miles, leaving the 1 road and survey to the southwest), and made | camp in beautiful grove of mountain poplar or quaking asp, at place named Bear Camp | by Uncle Joe. Walker, who, with his party, camped here several weeks in 1861. We found, cut in the bark of several trees. the | names Of some of his party, dated August r, 1881. Our party laid over here couple of days, to procure game, as the surrounding country abounded in deer, bear, antelope, mountain sheep and turkey. Several deer, bear, and quite a number of turkeys were brought into camp, and we made glorious feast, not in honor of any particular saint, but in honor of our noble selves.
 We left Bear Camp on the morning of the 18th, and reached the Little Colorado on the evening of the 20th, making distance of thirty-seven miles. Some ten miles south of the river the formation changed from yolcan- ic lava to white and red sandstone contain ing numerous gorges and. canons, and, high up on mesas of sandstone, we saw the ruins of stone houses that had been built with con siderable artistic skin by the Moquis or Az tee Indians; more probably by the latter. In close proximity to these ruins we invariably . found large quantities of broken pottery, some of which was very white in color, and , made of very fine material. Several pieces were procured that had been stained or painted with pictures of birds. also. in dia- mond squares. We also on the route from ; Bear Camp to the river, encountered the , northern survey of the 35th parallel railroad , route, which leaves the San Francisco noun 6 tain to the south, and crosses the Little Col f 1rado near tho upper falls, going east, and. ! running west, joins the main survey at or { near LerouN Springs, on the Beale road, near n y north of the Bill Williams Mountain. This | 'urvey shortens the distance several miles | md will make sewing of several millions of t money in cost of construction.
 On the 23d, we moved down the river :, ome twelve miles, the most of which dis ., 'ance was over deep beds of gravel, which, in places, was firmly cemented together. We ried some of it, for gold, but failed to raise P he color The gravel was very round and :, moothly washed apparently by the action of . ome heavy body of water, not of stream p p r torrent, but of lake or inland sea. From :, mong this gravel procured several beaati- ' al specimens of moss-agate, and quite nun ' CT of very pretty white and transparent u ', rystals, nearly as brilliant as the diamond. - y proper searching, judge, large number '' " fine moss-agates could be obtained. Still ,V 'rther east and north of this point, in the " 'avsjo country, the ruby and emerald are , n' 'und, and, from certain information have e btaIned, several diamonds of the first water f, ave there been found. This section of conn., y will, think, in some future time, be val VI ed for the precious stones it undoubtedly on ,ntains. CT On the 23d, we moved down the river to ,e se I.I