Arizona weekly citizen., 1882-10-08
CALABASAS.
Opening of Hotel Santa
 Rita.
NOTES ON THE WAY THITRRR.
4 Great Display Of Energy and Foresight.

| ing when one takes such sweet cornfur: in but another hour or two of refreshing sleep, and prepare for railroad excur- sion, does not strike the average Tucson resident as being the full fruit1on oi hi. fond anticipations of enjoyment, and when the eastern bound tram left the depot early on Thursday morning for the Calabasas excursion, 1t IS not 10 be wondered that some parties who had in- tended to be Of the number found them | selve. too late to catch the train. A goodiy crowd, however, were on hand, and embarked for the much-abused but beautiful town of Calabasas. The cars flung back the thick dust impartially in- to the eyes of all on board, which circum- stance was occasionally varied by flying cInder that provoked exclamatlons of mingled pain and profanity. let the train moved into the town of Benson ou sharp time, and the Tucson brass hand, under the leadership of NIT. 4. Y. Gros- settR, paraded the streets of that noted burg and startled the inhabitants by its superb melody. Benson looks busy, and its business men express satisfaction with the general outlook. Much freight IS being transported from this place, and some very heavy mining machinery has been and IS now being forwarded into Sonora. The smelter Is running on full time with plenty of ore to keep 1t busy. Its proprietOrs own the celebrated Flux mine near the SOnoita and are receiving the ore at the rate of two car loads per day. This ore, although of low grade, is very abundant, easily mined and loaded on the cars for shipment, and Is com plete fiux for any kind of ore however rebellious 1t may be. In this respect its value cannot be over estimated to own CTS Of reduction works.
 Leaving the Southern Pacific railroad at this point, the excurslonists were transferred to the AtchIson, Topeka & Santa Fe road, just constructed to tne Sonora line, and took the mixed or ac- commOdation train. Every body who ! has travelled knows the trials ot patience | incident to such journeylng and pities 1 the misfortune of the victim, yet every thing was done that was possible to do 1 to make the tedious journey a pleasant one, and the party wisely accommodated 1 themselves to the circumstances anu succeeded h making the last half of the | trip a scene of mirth and gayety.
 Fifteen miles on. from Benson Is the | busy town of Contention, where the 1 ceHseless chatter of ( intention mill and Head Center mill produce a sound oI 1 industry very grateful to ear and ey- ceedlngiy SC to the fortunate stock i holders lii these companies. StLi | further along Is the Grand Central mil, a model structure which sends out d steady stream of bullion.
 For many miles further but little C; interest attracts the eye. as tIe tralu
 winds its way up through the valleys and canyons, where occasional openings furnish soil for farms and grazing for 1 stock. There IS water III plentiful ! quantities throughout the entire route flowing from lnumerable springs.
 As the train starts on the grade down
 the SOnOIta canyon, d picturesque scene is presented the traveller. The trEA
 goes winding down the wooded canyon, | the roadOed cut sometimes through
 solid rock, and aJ other times crossing
 the crooked stream of pure mountaIa ! water that looks like d thread of silver flowing out of the metal-Lnel noun
 taIus. The Ur dergrOwth K very Tau k
 amOug the huge trees, and a mOrr
 romantic place Was never seen. As tu"
 train comes rolling down thls grade the excursion party joined together Iu
 many a song of old times, panied
 by the band. This rocky cauy ou which Is the scene Of many a bloody Indian
 outrage, has never before echoed tJ
 such joyous sounds.
 The canyon suddenly debouches into
 a most lovely valley, seemingly entirely
 surrounded by hills, in the midst of
 which, like gem, Is the little town of
 CALABAsAs.
 The railroad company IS now erecting here large commOdluos depot build ing capable of meeting the wants of the
 place for many years to come. It Is
 probable that the shops will be COL
 structed here also. The town has as Yet
 but few permanent buildings, chief
 among which Is the new Hotel Santa
 Rita, a monument to the indefstIgable
 energy and faith of Col. C. ?. Sykes.
 IL IS building that would do credit to
 any city, and Is supplied with ever,
 modern appointment necessary to the
 comforts of its guests. The furniture
 is really superb, and choice pictures
 adorn the walls Of every room.
 To fully appreciate the great faith oi Col. Sykes ID thIs enterprise, 1t will be necessary to go back a few years aud
 take a retrospective glance at events NIT. Sykes first learned Of the beauties of the Calabasas and TumacacOu grant in 1875, aud visited 1t In the succeeding year. He carefully examined the topog graphy of the country and was so greatly impressed with the natural advantages and beauties that he arranged % pur
 chase the grant, which he succeeded n doing, securing title to fifty thousand acres of land comprising hill and valley
 He afterwards selected Calabasas as q town site, in tue firm belief that rall- roads would eventually center there and 1 populOus city spring up. He lad tht matter before railroad men and called their attention to the advantages ot tho
 place, with the result that 1t already has
 one railroad; another IS about to b, constructed to Tucson, and another stlil the Bee Line, to run from Calabasas (,
 San Diego through the northern DOT ton of Mexico. hss been surveyed, and [ sufficient work done to comply with tn' ! conditions Of its charter Tn road has - received a favorable concession from [ the Mexican Government and its con \ StructlOn IS an dsSurtu ldct.
 With wise provision, Col. Sykes, be 1 heving these things assured from th' 3 start, established the town, and, know 9 ing that the most important feature o a new place IS a hotel, be caused tn, present grand struc ure to be erected
 at great personal expense, and lt + today, the best hotel between San Fran cisco and Denver. It IS under the per sonal management of Col Sykes Wlti l Mir. T. E. Richardson as assistant. M -s | Dr. Lane IS housekeeper, assisted 6l Mrs. Roberts. The estimah'e family o a Col. Sykes arrived last Tuesday and hav' taken up their abode at the hotel The,
 consist of Mrs. c. P. Sykes, Miss LulJ , J. Sykes, and Mir. Eugene k. Sykes
 who, notwithstanding their years O . residence in New York and Boston, ar' , highly pleased with their new Arlzoni 1. home.
 1, The Sonoits valley, m which ths | grant IS located, is probably the hand somest body of land in the West with i, out any exception. In stranger 1 view excltes feeling of wonder an'
 admiration, and he will exclaim, llk
 the Queen of Sheba upon first viewlni
 King SolOmon's temple, "Ibe half ha not been told From the balcony O r the hotel one can look in any direction and feast his eyes upon the most lovel,
 landscape.
 The writer has been permitted to SC
 A letter sent to Colonel Sykes by
 gentleman who recently passed som
 days at his hotel, in which occurs th
 following passages;
 Tt has natural advantages which ar
 already attracting the attention Of peI
 sons here and in the East, who desire
 mild winter climate together with goo .. ] ...-..-A-..sAsnr f,r kr1eir.ass