Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-04-10
ARIZONA LETTER.
CURIOsITIEs OF COLORADO
DESERT.
ARRIVAL AT YUMA.
Sand-hiIIs to the Right---Sand
Hills to the Left--Sand Hills
Everywhere.
Castle DOme-The Country Between
Yuma and PFescOIts Etc.
Correspondence of the Herald.

Correspondence of the Herald.
At Indo the railroad track deseends for
ty feet below the sea level, and at one
point is two hundred and fifty feet below
the level. On every hand are evidences
that this desert was once an inland sea.
Sea shells and bones of animals are found
scattered everywhere, and it is reported
that the remains of a vessel are still to be
seen in a mud lake. The railroad com
pany has made vain efforts to secure suit
able water for their use, though one well
has been sunk to the depth of 1000 feet.
There are quite number of mud volca-
noes in the vicinity of Indian Wells, one
or two of which are In constant state of
eruption. It is said that one of the rail-
road employees was badly sealded short
time since by breaking through one of
them.
The booming of the morning gun and
the rataplan of the drum beating reveille,
reminded us of fAuld Lang Syne" as
our train slowly approached the military
reservation on the west side OF the Colo
RADIO river, on which is situated old Fort
Yuma. The railroad track passes through
the center of the reservation, leaving part
of the buildings on either side. The
bridge spanning the Colorado river is a
| wooden structure, but built in the most
| substantial manner, with roadways for
wagons and footmen. The first view of
the town of Yuma is not calculated to
make one fall in love with it. There are
sand-hills all around it-big sand-hills,
little sand-hills, sand houses, sand pave
ments, and sand in the air as you toll
through the sandy streets from the sand
depot to the sand hotel. The town is To-
Gated below the mouth of the Gila, and is
about on level with that sandy stream,
which has been leveed so that it does not
overflow the sandy town, as in former
times. The streets are very narrow, and,
like all Spanish laid out towns, have no
regularity All of the buildings are con-
structed of adobe, and there is not foot
of sidewalk visible. The population is
mixture of whites, Mexicans and Indians.
The principal business houses are con-
Quoted by Americans, and there are two
| or three establishments which would be
creditable in much larger towns. The
acteristics of the race-lazy, dirty and ig-
norant, while the Indians are about the
worst-looking specimens of the race to
be seen anywhere. We wanted to get
there in time to see the carnival which is
held there each year, but were disap-
pointed, only arriving in time to see a
portion of the last days proceedings.-
This festival is held to commemorate some
Saint, and all the Catholics, far and near,
suspend all business to participate, From
what we saw of the last days proceedings
we are inclined to believe that more de-
votion was paid to Bacchus than to their
patron Saint. The Yuma Indians still
make their homes in and around the
town, and manage to exc out precarious
existence by cultivating a few acres OF
corn, potatoes, pumpkins, and such other
vegetables as can be raised in the Gila
bottom; by doing odd jobs for the citi-
zens, and by begging and stealing indis-
criminately. They are very primitive il
their costume, which generally consists
of a breechclout and blanket; though
some of the squaws sometimes sport &
calico skirt and hat This is said to be
the hottest place in the United States.-
Although the sun was shining brightly
and the air warm enough to make heavy
clothing uncomfortable to US, the 'old in,
habitants' had their fires burning briksly
and were complaining because ice haC
been seen in the Notwithstanding al
most unknown before. The soldiers tel
story to the effect that one of thei
number, who was rather hard case, diet
and was buried there some years ago
but appeared at his quarters at night
and, in answer to questions, said it wa
. so cold in the lower regions that he hat
come back after his blanket.
A two-days' soiourn in Yuma satisfie,
us, so we pulled out for Prescott, distan
s about $50 miles-and long miles at that
l over one of the worst roads we ever trav
eled, bounded by county almost utterl
worthless for any purpose except raisin
sage-brush and cactus. From Yuma t
D Dome City -35 miles-the road rur
within short distance of the Colorad
river and a lagupa to the Colorado. Th
sand is from six inches to two feet deeI
z and you can imagine that travelling undt
e such circumstances was rather heavy
There is some timber along the route,
small growth, principally mesquite an
q cottonwood. Cactus and greasewood wi
grow anywhere, and here they attain
AO growth of unusual size. Dome City COZ
tains store, postof1ce, and few adobe
inhabited by Mexicans. The first silv
discovered in the territory was found
- IL 81 Il
from this place, and during the first e
citement great expectations were j
dulged in by the founders of the tow
who erected large and expensive smelti
works; but their dreams were short-live
for the ore was not rich enough to ps
and now the ruins of their building are
that is left to tell the story. After lei
ing Dome City the road takes an caste
rs course into the desert, to Tyson's W,
distant 20 miles, passing over a count
as desolate and dreary as Sahara. TIL
IS is not single redeeming feature alb
the country. The road is either on a S
dy plain or in a dry arroyo, where
rocks and gravel reminds one of tra7
* ing on corduroy road. The hills
either side are destitute of vegetation i
stand out black and dreary-lookins
L There's stage station 80 miles from DE-
I City, where water can be had. Tysc
Il Well is located at the intersection of
Yuma and Ehrenberg roads. There is
abundant supply of water here, and
Il proprietor makes a good thing of i
II selling it to freighters and the stage
Il The rate is 1216c. per animal or $2 80
- barrel. The next station is called ''I
Il sert," and the one who so named it
- tainlv had an eve to the eteternal fitn