Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1884-03-28
LETTER FROM ARIZONA.
GLOBE CRY, March 7, 1884.

this country, by way Of Southern Pa u
cifc Emigrant train, arriving at Mari =
coffee, A. T., on the 25th, where we it
took stage for Phoenix. Undoubtedly Il
many Of your readers are familiar h
with Arizona, but as for ourselves we
were singularly impressed with the F
appearance of this, generally arid,
and desert land. The vegetation is
entirely different from that of Idaho.
While in Idaho we had reason to tire
of the never absent sage brush, here
we get cactus of all varieties, mos
quite, Palo Verde, greasewood, and
other varieties of shrubs which cover
these vast plains, while we found to
our cost that all were provided with
thorns. It is not only "every rose has
its thorn" but here every tree and
bush has its thorn. One of the most
curious sights that meet our eyes here
are the snahanos, or giant cactus,
which, like a forest of tree trunks,
denuded of their branches, cover the
plains. They vary in height from a
! few feet to 40, and even 60 feet high.
| They are cylindrical in shape, futed
| like a Corinthian column, covered with
5 sharp thorns. Occasionally branches
\ shoot out from the main trunk, and
i then grow parallel with the main stem,
:, like the branches of candelabro.
d These grow all over these sandy des-
l. erts, seemingly without moisture, and
l. while apparently worthless, afford
IT material for the traveller, or the set
N tier, not to be despised. 1t grows
J. rapidly and soon decays. In June i
v blossoms and bears fruit somewha
ID resembling figs, which are gathered
e, and much priced by Indians and Mex
n leans. In it's internal structure, tn
y center is of pulpy mass; this is sur
lie rounded by growth of woody pole
on in the form of cylinder, and tn
er, whole held together by the outsid
ic. skin, or FIBRE When dead, thes
tie poles are used for covering the roo
to of adobe houses, making fences an
such like, and also for wood Speal
ing of houses, these adobe, or III
ore burned brick, are curious lookin
nd sight to one who has never seen Il
De- like. Usually of one story, with fl
lad roofs, and rough gray walls; the
on seem anything but inhabitable. B
on. in this climate, where it is said tt
vo- thermometer registers anywhere fro
me 90 deg. to III deg. in the summe
has these thick walls and dirt roofs he
old to keep out the intense heat.
of Phoenix, where we first stopped,
ion pretty town, on account of its sha'
'lu- trees and surroundings, more than
'ro- it's buildings. 1t is surrounded WI
sti-. an excellent agricultural region bel
an in the valley of the Salt River, abe
,ltl 100 miles south of Prescott, capital
ac- the Territory. Here anything in
md fruit line can be raised. and all
ople tropical fruits flourish here.
on Globe, where we are at present,
opt. in ella pronounced Hela) county
light miles southeast of Phoenix. This
Ias- a mining town. Mineral was f
ouse discovered in 1876, since which ii
by large number of rich and pay
oosl- mines have been located, and opeI
re OF up, and there are now in this viclr
S for s smelters and mills for the red
ton of ores. The Old Domin
Copper Company have been 1
-ohe running for the past 5 years, and h
'iair' an immense amount of ore to W.
ouse On the ''dump" there are now
rs OIL tons of copper bullion awaiting s