The Clifton clarion., 1888-02-15
Leaves from Thatcher.

They are almost here - the leaves, l mean. Soon they will hold their hands over our heads to shade us from the sun, and their shadows will dance on the grass in all fantastic and shadowy ways for our amusement. The buds that now begin to swell are beautiful to the eye, and of grate- full odor; the bluebirds warble softly in the willows-in fact spring has come; and has once again set her rosy foot in the Gila vale, and she is surely an enticing goddess, who wooes with a warm touch and perfumed breath. She steals along by night and by day whispering to the buds, awakening the buried roots, and causing such joy that all things come forth to look upon her.
 The weary, travel-worn pros pector of '65, who sought for mines of gold or silver ore, little dreamed that the precious metals nature had stored up with such prodigal- ity in our hills were some day to be eclipsed in point of wealth by an other industry then safely hidden in the soil. The experimenting pioneer found the soil and climate adaptable to great results, and now fields of alfalfa, grain and orchards are seen capable of pro ducing in almost unlimited quanti- ties all the cereals, fruits and vege- tables belonging to temperate and semi-tropical countries; and still vacant lands to be had for the asking. It is useless to tell our home readers anything about the location or topography of this section of Graham county, but for our friends in the bleak, cold north west this genial, warm climate, to which snow, frost and ice are strangers, must have charms; and to them I say that the trackless, treeless barren waste spoken of by Senator Benton of Missouri, when he spoke against the purchase in '52 of this land from Mexico, does not exist. Instead you find Thatcher a foothill paradise of the Graham mountains, their lofty peaks towering above us at an altitude of 5000 feet; the sloping sides of the mountains, the deep ravines, down which the silver threaded waters trickle along; the terraced pinnacles of each partic- ular mount-all, all, is made more picturesquely enchanting, as well as valuable, by the store of tam arack, pine, alder and oak, which makes a forest of this region. These mountains, in their west ward slope, pause as though re- luctant to leave their aerial-like heights, and take a prolonged view of the Gila valley that spreads out like an inland sea at its feet; and pausing thus they form a low narrow shelf of rolling hills and verdant valleys. A strip of low land Hanks either side of the rip bling Gila, rich Tn historical incl dents of early days.
 And the people of this land, this God-child of the sun, come and see them. Their climate IS not more genial than their hearts; and right royal welcome and helping hand awaits you. And while perfect happiness, I believe, was never intended by the Deity to be the lot of one of his creatures in this world, still, when you see every countenance bright with smiles and glowing with innocent enjoyment, surely this happiness is reflective; and in making the best of what we receive and obtain have not our people found the key - be frugal, be useful, be united, be happy. NEPHI.
 Thatcher, February 12th.
 PhOto=raphing.