Arizona citizen., 1875-04-24
LETTER FROM COL. HODGE. Eastward to Camp BOwie-On and
 Off the Road.

CTS to go with us, in mind if not in body, over that part of Arizona to be described in these and succeeding articles. By leav
 ing Tucson at 3p. m., on the present we'll arranged two-horse blackboard stage and United States mail wagon of s. H. Drach- man with an excellent driver in Jose Ma ria Chacon, and taking the road to Camp Bowie in Apache Pass, the reader if at all fond of beautiful scenery, or in studying up our future capacities will find much to interest and instruct, and the time will pass rapidly away as it did with us in the ride of l1O miles made in 24 hours to Camp Bowie. For about 10 miles out of Tucson there is but little grass in comparison to what will be found thence on to Cienega station, 25 miles from Tucson, the last Is miles being we'll supplied with the diff ferent gramma aud bunch grasses, suffi- cient to feed and fatten large bands and herds of cattle, and sheep. Some three miles before arriving at the Station the road winds through the dry bed of the Cenega, lined on either hand with large cottonwood and other trees, which, if growing in Tucson would make that thriving town one to be admired by all. Some of the cottonwoods were, by actual measurement, over l2 feet in circumfer ence. At Cienega station there is a fine living stream of good water reaching up and down for some four miles. MT. Wilt, the station keeper has but small herd of animals where many thousands could be kept with the greatest ease, but those he has are in prime condition. Our stay of an hour was one of the most pleasant passed in Arizona, and around the woll prepared supper table Of Mrs. Wilt, we eat of clean and we'll prepared food which, with social and agreeable chat with our pleasant hostess, made the hour pass all too rapidly. We hope at some future day to again be seated beside that hospita- ble board. From the Cienega to San Pe- dro station, distant 25 miles, with bright moon light We could see the country al- most as well as by day. With few excep- tions the road was good and the grazing excellent. On the San Pedro river, a beautiful and never failing stream, fine settlement of 30 or more families has al- ready been formed and yet there is abund- ance of room. Along the whole route large bands of cattle and horses, and flocks of sheep might easily be kept, where now there are scarcely any. For 25 miles from San Pedro the road passes over ex- cellent rolling and level grazing lands, when we enter upon great and magnif- cent valley, only known to me as the Sul- phur Springs valley. This is a vast level miles, the main valley being about 30 by l5 miles iu extent. At former day rich Mexican herded here, 10000 head of cat tie, and it would now no doubt support 100, 900 head of cattle, horses and mules, where there are uot perhaps as many hun dreds. The section of country already described, including 20 miles further on towards Camp Bowie, as soon as fully known, will no doubt induce scores of stock men in California and elsewhere, who have half starved stock, to come here with their fiocks and herds and thus assist to fill up and develop this rich grazing section. There are in the great Sulphur Springs valley some seven or more clusters of springs atfording large supply of good water, and from the geological formation of the valley have no doubt that arte- sian wells will, when needed, be success. MT. Rogers, the proprietor of the Springs and the keeper of the station is wide awake, and energetic, and his success in the future is well assured. From the springs to Camp Bowie in the Apache Pass for 20 miles is over the fine valley or plain spoken of, and thence on the mesa, until the last four miles which are over | granite hills, wild, broken and jagged, with grand and wild mountain scenery on | every hand. H. c. H.