Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1879-11-05
Letter from Arizona.
From Albuquerque, N. N. T. to Tombstone,
A. T.

From Albuquerque, N N. 7. to Tombstone,
A. T.
Coming into Ailznna from the
terminus 1T the New MEXICO and
SpHtherh Pacific Rai,wat. ] turned
oil The regular stage route AT Albu.
qurIurie. ou the Rln tiraudr, aud
fft, titti almost due West, tit,ssiitg
the line about 200 miles from that
point. From the Rio Grali,ir there
Is gradual ascent at 100 miles to
the summit of the main Rocky
Range. The MrNiranS. however,
call this range the Sierra Madras.
i. e., the Mother Mountains. The
Wagon road TO The summit is u
splendid road but for the sand.
which is deep III many places, max
ing il hard work 10 draw n loaded
wagon. Water and g,aSs are very
scarce: wood sufficient tor coukiug
purposes. The road Is not steep III
amy place. but rises gradually all
the way. Arriving upon the SUN.
nit you have II magnificent view of
hill aud dale. Mountains. peaks
and valleys spread before Anu. To
the North you see peak after peak,
rising mp for hundreds of miles.
The view South is ubStructed by
rocky crags and peaks which inter
we've. From the summit West there
is II gradual slope ot 80 miles over
~ good road aS | ever SAW. You
cross the Arizona line about 30
miles from the summit. On the
way Non pass u small Mexican ham.
let, consisting ot about ten houses
and rs niauA families.
This is S1rat sheep region. The
wealthy Dnns sending their herds
NJ there for paSiuragt ana salt.
Near the line is II salt we'll, nr lake.
in the vicinity uf which are said to
be- abnui 800. 1000 sheep. This well
Is II great curiosity. There is n de-
preston OF the earth, SAY OF IL space
which is round. 0f about one mile
in diameter. AT the bottom OF
this which Is AT least 800 feet below
tfi" ratttis surface. there are two
huttrs, or mounds, ahout 800 feet
high. In the center oi the largest
there is II cavity which no man
knows the depth ut. AT the top,
the cavity is ahont I mile IN diane
Ter, narrowing gradually until. at
the depth of 200 ircl, you strike salt
water. This water is very clear.
and cold upon the surface, but at
the depth OF tupr Tee, II IL 81 hot
thar one cannot bear IT. We went
III bathing, aud ~ long as We ~.
manned upon the surface the water
was pleasant. hut ALLOW ing our feet
To sink three nr tour feet, the water
became So hot that We Thought OF
thr "Duirhman," who, IN passing
Hot Springs, Ark, at an carh day,
lett his son John With the wagon,
near by, while he went to slake his
thirst. knec!ing down upon moth
or earth he put his mouth To the
water, but ROSE immediately after
wards suffering ont, "Drive on.
Shon; drive Oh, He'll iSh not a mile
from dish bace." The water here
is hot enough tn make one think at
the internal regions. Around the
base of these huttrS Oh The North
side is a lake covering an area oi
about 30. acres. This is shallow &,
ami al the bottom are immense de.
posi,s OF salt. Wagons from the
Rio Grandr. on the East. and Pres
cotr on the West, come here tor
salt. They drive the wagon gu.
into the bake and shovel it mp from
the bottom. When loaded they
pull ont to the bank aud let the salt
drip and dry.
Forty miles West OF this place
We strike the Little Colorado River.
or .'Chicata Coiorado,7 as the Mex
leans pronounce il. At the cross.
ing is y foil bridge, and upon the
West banks stands the town OF 81.
John. This vale, herr. in irrigated
and produces spIendilly. The wa
ter il a kali. This in n great stock
region. AhOst all the points for
gNNl stock ranches are taken mp.
South Of this the Mormuns have
n r<lAnv. thar ma uo;ta unsunronn