The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1879-03-08
OUR Northern Border.

The most northern part of Ari-
IONA is still comparatively unex-
plored. Our northern boundary
lies 100 miles north of Prescott,
so that there is yet room there
for discovery and adventure. A
popular impression is that most
of this northern country is of
sedimentary formation, sterile
and made impossible by deep
canons with precipitous walls.
This impression is confirmed by
stories of the "Painted Desert"
by Major PowelPs grand descrip-
ton of the deep cations through
which he followed the Colorado
river, and by the reports of scien.
fists who have examined Ari-
zona's great coal-measures Of sand
and limestone. There is no re-
cord of any exploring party hav-
ing traversed that part of Ari-
IONA lying north of the Big
Cahon ofsthe Colorado river since
Escalante's expedition, in 1776.
But individuals are now making
incursions into this unknown
part of our country, and are car
rying back accounts that are rap
idly narrowing down the applica-
ton of such terms as "sterile" and
valueless" to very small areas.
Settlers are already occupying the
beautiful parks of the great San
Francisco forest, IS miles and
more north of Prescott. Mines
and quartZ-mills at Kanab, Leeds,
and other points, are already en-
croaching on Arizona's northern
boundary line; and demonstrating
the mineral value of that "sedi.
mentary" country. 1t is now as.
certained that the coal-felds not
only underlie the northeastern
part of Arizona, and the Navajo
Reservation, but that they also
extend across to its northwestern
corner. Mountains of iron ore
are described up there, as rival
ing those of Missouri. Develop.
ments already made upon the de-
posts of copper near Grand Gulch
have shown them to be of enOr.
NOUS extent. The immense salt
mines near Virgin river have 6
local value in the milling of sill
yer ores. The extent to which
Mormons of Utah are driving il
herds of cattle and sheep is be-
ginning to show that, in theil
estimation at least, the country i.
not too sterile for grazing. Tha
its sedimentary rocks, north O
the volcanic country nearer Pres
colt, are not entirely destitute O
silver is proved by operations a
Leeds, just nineteen miles DUE
north of our boundary. At tina
place are now seven quartz milk
crushing ores from a belt of sand
stone which extends for 125 miles
carrying silver ore atLeeds, whicl
change to copper ores in Arizona
and again to silver after crossing
the Colorado river. A former su
perintendent of a Leeds mill oh
tanned specimen of coal in which
were imbedded many fragment
of native silver: it was genuin
coal, and silver, without mistake
The rich "San Juan country" O
the State of Colorado, extend
into northeastern Arizona, an,
its river of that name trespasse
upon our country before it emptie
into the Colorado. Except owe
comparatively small areas, tn
northern part of Arizona is nov
found to be very fairly watered
Whether its climate is as we
adapted to agriculture as it's SO!
yet remains to be proven. Blu
its mineral resources alone ar
sufficient to populate it. A It'd
of immigration has already sc
in its direction, that may give
the balance of power at futur
elections. Our northern border
worth nursing and being civil t.