Arizona citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Pima County, A.T. [i.e. Ariz.]) 1870-1880, 1876-04-15

SklIlIlNe
OF the country. As usual, the meadow
through which the stream ran had its
crop of sedges and rushes, and, in
the course Of ages, had become quite
fertile from the successive crops OF
vegetation that decayed there The
adjacent hills were well covered with
bunch and grama grasses, nOtwithstand.
| ing the roots had often to penetrate into
the crevlces of the lava for nutriment
Pinons were sparsely scattered over
the country. As a grazing center, this
is desirable location. From this to
the bottom of the timber-belt on the
Sierra Blanca the road was through a
region in which thousands of cattle
might roam and find enough OF forage
most Of the year. Water is within easy
reach.
Arizona is, emphatically, land of
contrasts in scenery; its tropical eli
mate either parching the soil and vege-
tation, tor, under fair supply ofwater,
causing the fora to deck the surface
with a luxuriant covering of verdure.
Nowhere is this statement more strik-
ingly true than in the Sierra Blanca
and the adjoining plains TO the south.
On the latter, the ensemble Of the vege-
tatiOn is dwarfed and hardened from
the aridity Of the soil and rapidity of
evaporation. In the mountains, how
ever, dense forests alternate with we'll
watered glades, covered with luxu-
RANT growth of grass and flowers. The
succulent tissues of the herbaceOus
vegetation appeared by contrast with
the harder plants Of the plains TO show
an excess Of vitality; and an abundant
nutrition, expansion into leaf, instead
of contraction into the least possible
evapOrating surface, is characteristic of
the rank, luXuriant growth of the Ser
IA Blanca. Rising from an altitude Of
1000 feet above the sea to 1l,3SS feet,
and between the SD and 34th parallels
of latitude, we have climate superim-
posed on climate, from one es dry and
hot as that of Sahara to q varm-temper-
ate, atemperate, and subalplne. The
flora of the region ranged from the
cacti and acacias of the lower grounds
to the asters, gOlden-rOds, and pinOn
pines of the middle, and, after crossing
the belt of the large pines and frs, dis
appearing VIZ dwarfed frs and a
helenium on{rae summit of the Sierra
Blanca.
Standing on this elevated peak and
looking over the surrounding region,
one of the most striking views on the
continent is unfolded. Ridges run in
all directions from this eliminating
point, and descend through stretch OF
miles like so many radii in an immense
circle. They start from a mountain
mass Of infinite grandeur and dwindle
out on the grassy flats from 1000 to-
1000 feet below Between them are
well-watered valleys, producing grass
enough for all the herds of the Terri
tory. Plains rich in all the glory a
wealth of autumn-cOlOring could con-
fer on their herbaceOus vegetation, belts
Qf 9sBtnbGPi0Fedrs Gqtt6o9eYofQedtfiis dte5fin
trasting, yet harmonizing, combined to-
complete this perfect landscape. The
impress upon the mind OF such q view
is final, and can never be forgotten
Where the ridges proper ended, the
general slope of the country had been
cut into Gallons, each q tributary chan
mel for carrying the torrent of water
made by the melting snow to the main
stream. Erosion could here be detected,
illustrating to Us the wonderful history
of our western domain. The mesasI
thus left between the canons were top
ped with the ever-prcsent trachYticI
overflow. Water and fire, each supple
menting the other, had impressed the
final features on the cOuntrv.
1t is certainly within the limits of
safe provision to assert that, as this
portion of Arizona and the adjacent
parts of New Mexico are rendered more
safe from Indian depredations, and &C
cessible to the immigrant, settlers, at
tracted by its soil and climate, will flock
in to occupy it. From the summit of
Sierra Blanca looking to the east, noun
tains of low altitude, with fine valleys
between them, rise, one beyond the
other, for al least sixty miles; and most
Of the territory embraced in the area
a combination of valuable, |
timber, grazing, and farming lands |
Above 1000 feet we can hardly expect
that agriculture will become a dOmi- |
nant interest. Above this, however, is |
lust where the best timber and summer
cattle-range is found. At Willow Spring.
latitude 7,19j feet the snow occasion
ally is several feet deep, and hence
w;ntering stock there is out of the
question, except in an unusually open
winter It is a safe assertion that there
is on the Sierra Blanca of Arizona
enough of good pine timber for the
whole Territory for many years. Pine
attains height of 20 feet, and some Of
the frs reach a greater height. An oak,
in general appearance somewhat like
our white oak, grows abundantly over
this region. 1t does not exceed % feet
in height, and the trunk is much
branched. The wood is close grain
ed" and solid; hence it may be of con-
siderable service in the future of the
Bunch and grama grasses,
along with others, the nutritive quail
ties of which are not so thoroughly
recognized, grow luxur:antlY every
where, and it would be hard to over
their importance in a Terri
.ory the general reputation Of which
for fertility is as bad as that of Arizona.
Lest l should be misunderstood, VIII
lualify these statements on the Sierra
Blanca district by saying that / do not
sneak of its resources as compared IN
general with those of the surrounding
regions, but intend my remarks TO be
aiken absolutely; l. E., the district would
in any portion of our dominion be re-
-arded as one of unusual promise. 1t
S one of the most inviting portions OF
our country vet remaining for civiliza-
ion to occupy. A large portion Of the
nay for winter-use Of Camp Apache
comes from the vicinity of Willow
Spring. The mesas on either bank of
he White Mountain Creek, and in sight
If the post, furnish all the pasturage
for the Government animals,
n say nothing of the hundreds of In