Arizona citizen., 1875-10-09
LETTER FROM COL. HODGE.
old Ruins-Rich Lsnd-Large Pro-
 ducts-TeIegraphB BuiIdins.


 . scattered so freely p and down the valley of Pueblo Vie5o, full descrip tion of which would fill a volume A thorough examination of the ruin: left by the numerous, prehistoric race who in former timeO occupied and till . ed the rich lands of all the valleys and plains of Arizona, should be made by and under the authority of the govern ment, or by some well known histor Iical society, before all O. their olC works are obliterated by the blow o the husbandman A complete examin- ation, am satisfied would reveal much of general interest and perhS 2s hier lDglyphics, or memorial stones would 1e found, which would lead to the dis
 ,overy of the race of people land thei
 times) who have left so many monu. Iments of industry, and partial civili- zation. Ruins of houses, Notifications and pueblos, are scattered almost con tinuously for distance of nearly forty miles on both sides of the river. The most extensive are those on a Lightly lelevated mesa just above Mir. h LnsOn's, over thirty-five miles above this old post, and at MT. Lewis, five miles further up, both on the south side of the river. Those near MT Munson's, are several miles in extent, and their present appearance show a former large and we'll built town of stone and adobe. Those near MT. Lewis cover twenty or more acres of land on a mesa some twenty or thirty feet above the river bottom These ruins are al most wholly of stone, and their amount indicates large houses supported in the center by cedar posts, few of which are yet standing The ancient town was supplied by water from tanks or fountains on the mesa near by, some of which were circular in form and others nearly square. 1 made careful ex- animation of them and found one square one to be about six feet deep below the surface of the surround ing ground and 200 feet square. The land on the river bottom here is Ve. Z rich, like the whole valley, and was ir- lrigated by the ancient inhabitants by an immense aceq1ia which discover ed, some 25 feet in width and which was cut through a point of the mesa on the northeast. MT. Lewis has fine improvement, all made the present year. He has already husked over 12,- 900 pounds of com planted in March last, and has several times that amount vet to gather. He has five acres of alfalfa, which looks well, a fine garden, lots of vegetables which he has been marketing at Camp Bowie for some time past. His squashes, melons on ions, pumpkins, etc, are enormous Tn growth and good in quality. One squash measured six feet in circU fer Ience and another over three feet in length. Hundreds of others of like size are growing 1 tried to raise some of the largest from the ground, but could not do it Mr. Lewis is the last settler up the valley towards the mouth of the canyon, and McWilliamS here at old Camp Goodwin the lowest onel down. McWilliams has the largest and best vegetable farm in the valley and has supplied large amount of DO tatoes, cabbage, melons, onions, etc, at the Posts of Camp Grant and San Carlos, and has large amount on hand.
 A few words respecting the telegraph line will be of interest. visited thel camp of the Camp Apache division last Friday and Saturday. The camp is on the north side of the Gila, fifteen miles below here. The whole linel from Tucson to Camp Apache, is under the charge of Lieut.. Philip Reade, who is now at Santa Fe making arrange ments to complete the line to that point. The Camp Apache division is under the charge of Sergeant E. w.. Boutelle who has thirty men. This division, l35 miles in length, extends from Camp Grant to Camp Apache, and was commenced August 2. Forty miles of this division is finished and the poles set for forty miles more. Seventy miles of this route IS over lofty, rocky mountains, requiring great energy and perseverance in the work in which Sergeant Boutelle has proved himself capable. Much time has been lost by want of material, and by being to move the poles from the line of delivery-in many instances for over eight miles. If no more hin drances occur, this division will be finished by November 1. The men are in good spirits and well pleased with each other and the officer in charge.
 H. c. HODGE.
 EARLY Monday, Hon. s. R. DeLong and