The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-08-17
Our Arizona Letter
ct. JOHNS, APACHE Co.,
ARIZONA. AuRnst z. 1890
Editors Herald:

n1NONAl august 1CcO.
Editors Herald:
As one OF the home missionaries
LETT this place on the 18th ult., i
company with Elder Andrew Gibbons
to visit come Of the settlements of In
saints in the White Mountains to tn
southeast. We drove to Round Val
ley, thirty miles, and stopped owe
night with Mr. Skonsen, the actin,
president Of the branch. The mex
day Sunday, ne attended the Sun
day school IN the forenoon, and il
the afternoon, after the sacramsnl
was administered By the local authori
ties, we preached to az attentive
congregation Of saints. Monday VIC
went TO Nutsroso, fifteen miles, where
there are a few families engaged in
farming and stock. raising. We
preached to them in the evening.
They have no organized branch, bu!
1t ls hoped that very soon twenty or
thirty families will be comfortably
situated there, as nature has made
ample provision for 8 thrifty little
settlement in that little valley. Wm.
Flake, Of Snowflake, bought farm
IN that valley. 1t Is worked on the
cooperative system, and under the
able management Of Mr.. Minerdy,
they are making grand snocess.
The next day We crossed the noun
tain through a beautiful forest OF
timber, ten miles, 10 Bush Valley.
Here We found VIM. Maxwell, F.
HRmlin and others, about ten fami-
lies, in one OF the most beautiful little
valleys on our earth. The valley is
about five miles long by one half TO
one mile wide. The timber which
surrounds the valley is of the very
best, and extends down into the val
ley and back on the table land, for
miles. The sizs of the valley SIS
described includes only that portion
along the stream not covered with
timber. The valley is thought BY
come to be too cold for successful
farming; but Mr.. Maxwell told me
that good grain had been grown there
for three years past. And l am of
the opinion that with proper drain
age for good portion OF the valley
ia meadow, danger OF frost will be
in great measure removed. There
is one thing certain that speaks we'll
for that location; q man can do as
much there in one week, in the way
Of improving a farm, as he can in
1ne month here. We held two meet
ngs while there, and as there Was a
lew out to meeting who had never
heard our doctrines, we preached on
he FIRST principles OF the gospel. A
hort time before our visit. Elder
Maxwell baptized a Baptist minister
md one Of bis sons. ! had the
pleasure few days since, of an inter
view with q Mr.. Gushing, ethnologist
If the Smithsonian. He is % years
I'D, and in my judgment, a very re
nsrkable young man. Brought up
q luxury and at the feet of the great
men of the nation, be left all, and
under instruc.ions) about nine
months ago he took up mis- abode at
The Zuna village, about fifty miles
from here, and belle ling tn at there
was something very interesting in the
history of the Zuua tribe, be resolved !
to adopt their habit of dress and
mode OF living in every way. and be-
come one of the tribe. He has sue
ceeded wonderfully. Now be has
very good knowledge of the language. i
and also most unliuited influence
with the tribe. He has been admitted !
into the holy of holes. so to speak,
and knows mere to day about their
religious rites and ancient history
than the msjority Of the tribe. Some
lay his works will be sent 10 the
public. l gave lin a copy OF the
herald, and loaned him the Book OF
Mormon, hoping that it would aid |
lim in searching cat the races of
men. Wishing the HERALD and my |
Did home success, l remain.
PoNo.