The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-01-30

privilege Of more, by paying thfrta.fee
cents a pound between the above points, z
This route passes through most uninter-
esting portion OF the country--over dusty
valleys, across rocky bills and mountains,
and desert Of fifty miles In length. It
takes ali day to cross this barren waste, and
before entering 1t keg Of water Is added to
the outfit. The driver beguiles the weary
midnight hours by relating the history Of
the graves which line the road, the victims
Of Mexican and Apache cruelty-which IS
decidedly comforting to lone traveller,
considering some Of them have very fresh
appearance;
Tucson, the capital of the Territory, is nm
old town, containing about three thousand
inhabitants, resembling Yuma in general ap-
,pearance, with pretty much the same charac-
ter of population. 1t is quite thriving
place, sustained chiefly by the Government
patronage for the army and Indian appro-
priations. The surrounding mountains are
stored with untold mineral easnre,-gold,
silver, copper, and coal--wbich at no dis
tant day will add much to the impor.
tance of the town. Nine miles from here
| is the cid mission church Of San Xavier,
Of great size and beauty, magnificent
| ly ornamented wthin-forty thousand do,-
lars in silver having served to adorn the
altar. No better evidence exists of the re-
sources and former prosperity of Arizona
than iy to be found in this deserted mission.
| 1t is still surrounded by Passage Indian
village, and few whites live under the
shadow of its towers. During my stay here
| was invited to Mexican bale and grand
ball given to General Crook and staff, who
| wara hora n viz Gor1n pf tha ScT10rItIS
are very pretty, with easy, pleasant man.
ners, and dance with remarkable grace and
elegance. As class the Mexicans are
thrittless aud indolent race.
! Alter weeks delay here, 4 seat in an
army ambulance drawn by four fine mules
| was tnrnlshed me by the Q. NJ, and three
days OF pleasant travel over more attractive
looking country than had vet seen brought
me to my present home.
! CAMP GRANT
is in latitude 81 degrees 25 minutes. lona..
tude 10 degrees % minutes 10 seconds: aIff.
tude, over 1000 feet and located along the
southwest base Of the Graham mountains.
which tower far above, while beautiful
plain extends for many miles in the distance,
bounded by parallel range forming il valley
over a hundred miles long and about fifteen
| in width. AS most of the storms come from
the East, we are in a measure sheltered from
their severity. What an excellent location
for Mr.. Jarndyce, of Bleak House. This
valley is covered with nutritious grass,
which sustains thousands of cattle the year
round. The mountain peaks are covered with
snow, while not an inch has fallen below; and
it is grand sight to bask in the genial sun.
shine and watch the storms raging in the
mountains above. We obtain water from q
| limpid, babbling stream which flows downs
beautiful canyon, runs out short distance
into the valley and sinks, apparently lost,
but rcappears many miles below, There is
no visible water in the valley, but you
would scarcely believe this, for looking far
| in the distance appears a tranquil lake with
vessels floating over its quiet bosom-a mere
phantom, however, whichsAanlshes as you
approaeh-the alluring mirage which has so
frequently chcered the weary travellers OF
| desert countries, and as often doomed them
to disappointment and sorrow; but to us a
source of renewed pleasure.
| AT present we are occupying tents, but in
few weeks ample substantial quarters OF
stone and brick will be completed. There
are three companies Of cavalry and one of In
| fuutry stationed here. Some days ago took
la trip to the summit Of the
LOFTY MOUNTAIN
near the post, and was surprised to find il
covered with a rich alluvial-looking soil
huge pine and fir trees six TO eight feet in
diameter, an abundant supply of flowing
water, while SNOW several feet deep lay OH tie
ground yet, at midday, SO mild al overcoa5
was unnecessary. The view from this ele.
yution-over ten thousand fect-is grand
lbeyond description. The extensive plain
below. embracing over fifteen hundred
SQUARE miles. looked like an ordinary-siZed
plantation, the camp not larger than pic
ture, and the cattle in the distance like so
many ants while peak after peak could be
seen for many, many milestone prominent
picdcho. said to be over two hundred miles
distant, towering far above them all. The
air was bracing and respiration luxury,
but very slight eXertion was eXhausting.
This country ubounds in game-the deer,
antelope, wolf, wild turkey, duck, and quail
in easy reach from the camp. We have a
fine library here, pack Of splendid hounds.
the officers are social, pleasant gentlemen
and. with good fare, horse, and gun, the
winter will doubtless pass pleasantly.
| We feel greatly the need of female society.
and man, the hermit, sighs for want of wo,
mans smiles.
The climate of Arizona on the Lower Gila
and the Colorado is oppressive during the
summer, but in the winter snow never lies
seldom falls; frost is rare, though the nights
are often cold, seldom freezing; thus offer,
ing great attractions to those who desire
more genial skies than those of the North.
In the central and northern portions of the
Territory the seasons become more regular
and the changes greater-neyer becoming
extremely hot, with cool summer nights.
But little snow falls in the valleys, the
storms exhaustng themselves on the
mountains The valleys of Central and
Northern Arizona as we'll as the mesaS
and hill-sides, are covered with an abun-
dant growth of different grasses, forming
extensive tracts of grazing country. On the
hilI-sides, above the level of the mesas, are
scattered tie live-oak Of the country, the
trees varying from twelve to twenty-fiY feet
| in height, presenting the appearance OF an
old orchard. AS we ascend the mountains
the oaks are mingled with the cedar, until at
an elevation of about 5000 feet the pine re-
| zion commences. The following from the
meteorological register of this post for the
| first ten days of July and December, 1872,
may be of interest:
Dam. TIM 2PM sPA Daily Mean.
SO 100 g ss5Soa
g Sc 102 81 s9.ss