The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-09-05
ALLEGED DISCOVERIES in Arr.
IONA.
Finding of Precious Stones-Oil Wells
Flowing Fifty TO sixty Barrels Day
Ant Hill Geology.

A special correspondent of the N. Y.
World, writes from Erensburg, Arizona,
as follows: On the road from Prescott
City to this new town on the Colorado
River, collected quite large number
of valuable specimens and some precious
stones, comprising rubies, sapphire,
amethyst, and diamonds, the latter ex-
ceedingly small in size, but diamonds
nevertheless, and here let the World and
the rest of mankind know that the Ari-
zona excitement is based upon fact, and
that diamonds Have been found in the
region of the Ant Hills, through which
we passed, and taken to San Francisco,
whether the people East decide to be-
lieve it or not. have not seen news
paper since we left Prescott. but Judge
from what they then contained that
more confidence is placed in Arizona
than in Southern Africa as diamond
field by the people outside of Arizona.
And Justly 80, for diamonds in Arizona
is a fact as immovably fixed as the
granite hills hereaway. On reaching
this place we soon ascertained that the
diamond fever had spread not only
throughout the adjacent Territories and
California, but the disease was spread
ing through the States East at an alarm
ing rate. Let it rage! 1t will do this
country good, diamonds or no diamonds.
But while the absolute truth in re-
gard to the discovery of diamonds in
Arizona can never be wrung from those
who are now here, nor from those who
succeed in escaping from this domain of
the bloody Apache with their lives, the
inducements are such as will justify any
one possessing an adventuresome nature
to go diamond hunting in Arizona
provided, however, at all times, that
such one leave his last will and testa-
ment in the hands of administrators of
his estate, if he have any, and write his
own obituary before leaving home.
But I'll have more to say concerning
diamonds in Arizona in another letter.
1 want to tell you something now of
more Importance than "Arizona dia-
monds," viz. Arizona oil wells Yes,
actual petroleum emanating from the
bowels of the earth--more oil from one
spring than any one we'll between Oil
City and Titusville could boast in Penn
sylvania's greasiest days. What is the
quality of the article? How is it acoes-
sible? and where are the springs loca-
ted? NUNS the word Don't hatter
yourselves, denizens of civilization and
participants in Presidential elections,
that experiences gone by go for moth
ing to men who risk life, limb, and top
knot to penetrate into this new Ell Dor
ado. Wait till our return, when you
may be solicited to subscribe. oil stock !;
but till then wait.
Our little party were the first of the
race that ever brought oil out of Ari-
zona from springs that run from fifty to
sixty barrels day and zoe did it. Our
samples will reach San Francisco soon.
Stand down the hall. Near Skull Valley
dug from a mound many pieces of
human bones-relics of Teltec and
Aztec life-and from the ruins of an
ancient town a number of pieces of
burnt bricks, ranging from one-half
inch to two inches in thickness and
eight inches wide, remains of Aztec civ
ilization. I am unable to decide the
length of the brick, as I found only
fragments. At Round Valley collect
ed several thousand specimens of
rose-chalcedony from calcareous con-
glomerate. 1t is the finest assortment
of the kind I have ever seen, and they
are valuable, as nature produces no
more beautiful specimens of jewelry. l
have them as O single rose, double rose,
and so on to twenty roses in single
cluster.
I have collected some canes from the
fower-stem of the " century plant" so
called, which grows here extensively
and large. 1t is utilized by the natives,
as it yields an excellent food, while the
Mexicans make from it liquor, sharp
and pungent, which intoxicates very
readily. 1t produces fibre which is
manufactured into paper and cloth,
making it at once the most useful plant
that grows on the American continent.
1t natures in from five to seven years
and, like the "modern maiden" blooms
and dies, too fair for earth, passes of
and gives room for its successor, which
in its turn, blooms, yields its seed, and
dies. It's flower is the most beautiful |
have ever seen on this continent. ]
have also canes from the palo verde and
ocate, also specimens of the rose-cactus
the mesquit, and swarro, or post-cactus
This last mentioned cactus grows to the
height of forty feet, and grove of them
scattered sparsely over the ground has
the appearance at distance of irregu.
larly arranged telegraph poles. The
fruit of this cactus is called swarro-
pronounced as three syllables su-war
row-and is very sweet and delicious.
have in my collection a piece of blanket
excavated from one of the ruins in Chi
no Valley. 1t is charred, as is the seed
and grain toek from them, and thus il
in an excellent state of preservation
The fibre is well preserved and will af
ford the curious an opportunity on my
return to inspect it and guess the ma
terial of which it has been made.
have a very handsome collection O
minerals which have named my ant
hill collection. These little insects ar,
of more consequence than has hitherto
been accredited to them. They are il
themselves curiosity. They are {
honey-making ant. A bag or sack o
honey about the size of large pea is at
tached to the female ant, which is fet
by the male, the female never leavin,
its nest. To this singular ant am l in
, debted for many services rendered m
, in my geological Investigations. A
San Bernardo, New Mexico, 1 first be
gan to inspect their mounds, for the
are as truly mound.builders as wer
: their ancient prototypes, who precede
, them on a grander scale, but no more in
! teresting or useful to the modern in
8 vestigator. At this point discovere
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