The Arizona sentinel., 1879-02-08
Trip to the Railroad Front.

tHdI lTaCh anu DrluSeS were III peTIeCII( finished condition. Adonde was being abandoned; some saloons, one of Klen'S hotels, and the camps of some railroad mechanics and laborers remaining to keep alive memory of the town. A pile of lumber and supplies for the San Antonio and Santo Domingo mines showed that Adonde is destined to play part in the development of cur country along the Sonora border. if not to become the base fol 2 large and lucrative smuggling busi- ness Here is a huge tank, holding 90, GOO gallons, filled ny steam pump, from well only twentj five feet deep. The water is soft to the touch and for use with soap; it IS more palatabe than that of the Gila, is relished by animals, and is in gen. eral use by the railroad employees. But it will not do for use in locomotives; foam Ing in the boilers, and corroding the iron. This accounts for the number of water i were d spare steam pump and boiler. quite new; every possible contingency seems to be provided against by these people. The freight platform has been dismantled and loaded upon cars for transportation to Texas Hill. Quantities of material aLd supplies of various kinds were in cars standing oh several side tracks. The pile-driver and its crew were also there waiting for the train 10 get past the place it was working on the main track. All bridging was completed then, to Adonde; and by this time the pile driver must be at work on the little bridges in Mohawk Gap. Beyond Adonde the route presented few difficulties to construction, and now offcrs no attrac- tions to the traveller. The line follows long tangents through nearly level, tree | less desert; the eye irrtated by constant reccurrence of the telegraph poles, and not relieved by single spot of bright color Mohawk mountain at last breaks the monotony of the plain. Its Gap was put there by Providence to enable rail- roads to get out of the Gila bottom. Here occur some heavy grades; nearly 160 feet of altitude beng overcome within three miles. Col. Geo. E Gray; Chief Engineer oi the Company. has determined to build t,is road without any grades greater than 52 and S-10ths feet per m:le Mohawk Gap demands the full limit A side track has been placed there for splitting trains that are too heavy to be taken over at one draft. From the eastern slope of the sum- init the view is extensive rather than few miles brought us to a score or so of cars upon side tracks, few tents, and number of empty freight wagons, that then formed the nascent town of Texas Hill, Nothing more checrless conld be pictured. Mules were of at the river and teamst,rs were waiting for frtiohts to be brought up from Adonde. Texas Hill Station is 6415 miles east of Yuma, by rail, and about five miles south of the Gila river ard the hlI for which it is named It will soon become the dustieSt place on earth, and everybody will be glad to leave
 it for the next station This will be estab lshed just wherever water enough, and good enough for locomotives, can be found neat the track. Water was bored for be- tween Texas Hill and the eastern slope of Mohawk mountain it was found, but too salt for use. The pire got bent, jammed, and could no longer be made to follow the horer; its battered end was visible near the track, as we passed. From Texas Hill stage passengers are taken direct to Salt Wells, and from there the old roads are followed Railroad passengers were hrst delivered there last Saturday; freight from Yuma was delivered there last Wednesday. Way Bill No. 1 for Texas Hill came iu here on Tuesday.
 From Texas Hill to the construction train was short run of nearly four miles, made on tie. supply train. The. country IS fiat and unbroktn, and tie graders have got over it at the rate of three or four niles q day; their advanced parties were then at W, TX on Oatman Canon, twenty four Il iies east of the end of the track; their other camps were strung over the intervening dist ance, though the nearest were beyond the horizo of the track layers. At three o'clock that afternoon. February Sd, the end of the track was just is and l 10th mics east of Yuma. Over d mile had been laid that forenoon, and more was then being lad at tn same rate. On Saturday, February 1st, there were laid
 ELEVEN THOUSAND FEET OF TRACK; l0.560 feet be ng two miles But this rale i> greater than is cbntem dated, and use up material faster than il has been accu- 1t,lItt,1 Tt ,V.iS tfD,.t..6 tu1f f.Y Thurs