Arizona weekly citizen., 1883-06-30
SAN PEDRO ON THE WING.
A Trip to Johnson City.

! SAN PEDRO ON THE MING. A Trip to Johnson City.
 EDITOR CITIZEN-Last week l took a
 trip to Johnson City, going by way of
 Dragoon Summit and thence through
 the old town of Russelville to Johnson.
 Drsgoon Summit, the station where you
 leave the train, is interestingly and pie
 turesquely situated at the base of the
 DragoOn mountains, from whence 1t no
 doubt takes its name. DragoOn, as n town, is small-ratherd dimInutive Tn fact
 consisting Of the section house, raIl-
 road ticket office, one saloon and 6 choice
 collection of dogs Here l found the
 stage waiting to take such as me, going
 to Johnson. Securing D seat with the driver, We were soon on our way for the
 objected town of my visit, distant, nine
 miles from DragoOn, in a direction al-
 most due north. The stage line is owned
 by Montgomery & Benson, connects daily with the east and west-bound pas senger trains on the Southern Pacific, and IS run over as smooth and pleasant
 a road as it would be ones wish tO travel. found the driver, H. D. BrIg- ham. a pleasant gentleman, and l advise all travellers JohnsOnward to secure the box seat by hIs side, If they would enjoy
 the society of a genial Jehu. In fact,
 found him so pleasant that l proceeded
 to retail him a few of my choicest
 stories.
 I am fond of telling stories and some of them l consider to be intensely funny
 and amusing, but have often observed with pain and astonishment that they do
 not seem to afford others the same
 amount of amusement that they do me.
 had noticed that for some time the drivers face had worn tired, weary ex-
 pression, as though he had been wound ed, but was unable to locate the exact
 spot of the injury or as though he had
 been sold and was anxiOusly expecting
 the proceeds of the bargain to be for
 warded to him. We had continued this 1 for several miles when suddenly left
 my seat I had not intended leaving my
 seat. but rather had proposed continuing
 my journey, but one of the wheels of the
 stage had suddenly sunk m a hole and
 went-withOut pausing to make known
 my intentions-I just went-my seat
 was vacant
 was ready to swear that the ground
 had flown up and hit me. but the driver
 assured me to the contrary, so, without
 further evidence to the contrary 1 was forced to accept his statement. In fact
 I consider 1t an excellent principle al- ways to agree with a man when you are unable to prove him in the wrong. It saves argument. Without further mis- hap, in short time we arrived at the old town of Russelville. Russelville is the most beautifully situated town I have seen in southern Arizona It is surrounded by magnificent oak trees, that offer, with their grateful shade, a pleasing contrast to the towering masses of rock and hill and mountain, at whose base nestles the town. From here Is drawn the water that supplies the mines, smelter and town of John- son. Miles < Drew have the contract to supply 2,0O0 gallons to the Cochise Copper Company's mine and works, and as many more to the town. At this place was formerly the centre of trade of the copper mines of Johnson, but all the stores and business houses are now located at the latter place. Three miles from here is the town of Johnson, and on the road thither l noticed many promising looking copper prospects. Among the many the one more particu- larly deserving of notice, IS that one which IS owned principally by August Joerss, and in which John Heiter and others are interested. Mir. Joerss IS now in Europe with a view of placing the property on the English market, with excellent prospects, l am told, of effectiDg a satisfactory sale.
 The town of Johnson IS well laid out, with broad streets and plenty of room for everybody. l may mention that there IS more room than population, but all cities must commence as hamlets Contained within the city limits are four saloons, three boarding and lodg- ing houses, three stores and number of neat ard comfortable looking cabins. I patronized the boarding house Ot Mrs. Quinn and found the fare most excellent. The firms of E. E. Rupert < Co, Sydow X O., as also the company store of the Cochise Copper Company, carry excel lent and well selected stocks of goods, and I was surprised at the amount of business done. and the life and bustle everywhere visible. Visitors will do well to make the acquaintance of J. G. Wall, superintendent of the COchlse Copper Co, as we'll as his gentlsmanly sou-in- law, Mir. W. c. Miller, the manager of the company's store. The smelter, dis ] tant about half a mile from town, was working at its full capacity, but l was unable to visit 1t on account of lack of ! time.
 The climate of Johnson is excellent, | and if one could subsist on that alone 1t | would be veritsble paradise, but unfor- l tunstely 1t Is the lot of men to toil, and l good evidence IS afforded that the res- idents of Johnson appreciate this fact, | since l was told there was not an idle | man in the place. The town demands, | and should receive better postal facil- | ities, there being no regularly estab- lished postoffice, the nearest one being at DragoOn, nine miles away. The mail is carried through by private subscrip- tion by the stage anl deposited Tn the store, where each one helps himself.
 Altogether, trip to this thriving and bustling little town will repay any one who cares for the change and variety of travel, combined with pure air, good water and some of the finest scenery in 3 sJuthern Arizona. SAN PEDRO.
 Benson, June 22, 1883.