The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1870-01-07

blancc to ruined castles, for.itcations
and bastions were remarkable. In
others, 1000 above the water, hang
from thoir lofty heights huge rocks,
apparently suspended and ready, at
the least breath, to come rashing to
the surface below. Add to this the
diffcreut strata of every color as dis.
tinctly defined as if fresh from the
hand Of master painter and a. faint
conception can be had Of the magnifi-
cent scenery At the head Of Paint
cd canon | found awhile strata Of
rock extending for miles, across the
country. l examined this and found
it extremely light and of tho most
Superior quality Tor polishing silver
ware. l subjected it to an intense
heat, and no impression could be pro-
duced upon it. l believe this will
yet be valuahl article Of commerce.
GLOOMY CANON. t.-
Above Callvillc, the Black or Big
canon continues for thirteen miles.
In this there is sno..openis8.lsaa
out on either side No vegetatioE is
seen struggling out from it's bare rock,
and no clear streams fall into it to
ningle their waters in the deep
chasm below, as is seen in the canons
Of tho Grand and the Blue. The
sides Of this canon rising from 500 to
$500 feet, almost perpendicular.
look like polished iron AS far as
tho eye can reach is one continued
chamber, whose sides echoed back the
successive strokes Of cur paddles,
like the sound Of muffled drum or
sepulchral voices. 1t would seem az
if nature intended that this strange
solitude should never be disturbed by
tie throbbings Of the steam engine
or the busy hustle Of a commercial
trade. am satisfied that with a
small appropriation. steamers could
ascend and descend through this can
on, and seventy miles beyond. For
all practical purposes, at the present
time there is no necessity for this, al
steamers can run at all seasons of
the year to its mouth without any
improvement Of the falls.
ANCIENT REMAINS.
In ccntra; Arizona she most numer-
our ruins are to be found of cities.
forti6cations, canals, mines, &c. 1t
would be impossible for me to enter
into description Of all these. One
Of the most prominent is that Of Ca
% Blanca, Or the Hall Of the Monte
zumas. This stands several stories
in height, and looms far above every
object on tho plains around. The
walls ere six feet think, plastered
with lime or cement which appears
to defy the powers of the clements
Over the doors and windows the ce-
dar timber is in a perfect state Of
preservation. although it must have
been ages since these were hauled
over the long route from their native
forests. The Indians can trace it
back two hundred years. Such is tho
dryucss Of, the atmosphere that time
has produced but slow change upon
it. The streets Of the city Of which
this structure formed prominent
part can be traced by the broken
pieces of crockcry-waro and the ele-
vation on each side. Immediately
back is seen the canal, which once
conveyed waterto to this city Of the
past and to the extended iclds bor-
dering on the river below. At Tubac
a more modern ruin is to be found
The walls Of the cathedral are yet
perfect; the altar is covered by shrub
berry, which has grown up spontanc-
ous!y; and over the cross, on the
windows and doors, the. vine ye:
clings, as if to protect them from the
beams Of the sun as they shine through
this roofess temple. This city was
but few years since inhabited by 4
large population: but the Apachcs
had been there and made q common
waste. the evidence Of whose vandal.
ism is seen over every beautiful val
10y and deserted ranchc. So CON-
pletc has been the desolation that all
that Is now left to tell the tale are a
few grape vines, a. half;6lled spring,
and the silent, isolated cross stand.
ing over the graves Of their victims
A company have succeeded in turning
tho water again into one Of the an
cient canals: for miles it ran around
the hills and across the valleys, where
it discharged itself over a beautiful
sloping plain. embracing thousands
Of acres Of the richest land. which
makes this the most successful farm.
ing settlement in the Territory. At
the submits Of some Of the highest
hills, fortificaticns with their narrow
passes, yet frown upon tho country
below. The solitary cross, tho aban.
doncd altar, the broken arch. and the
deserted mine. arc all VIC have t.
speak Of people for whose history
We may search other records in vain
Perhaps these may be the ruins erect.
ed by the Spaniards at time whct
the ships Of Spain rode in triumph
upon every sea, and the g'ittcring
arms Of Castillo and Arragon wer,
seen upon every land. Tho ricl
quartz mining districts in most min
eral countries are generally in the i'm
mediate vicinity Of limited extent
Of good agricultural land. Although
this Territory may not be large. yet
tae soil can produce much more pro6
- the demand is great, and conse