Arizona silver belt., 1889-08-24
, woNpEwi,rI AND INTERPRETING PLACE.


 Natural Bridge, on Pine creek, in
 the northern part of Gila county, is
 one of the greatest natural curiosltles
 in the United States, equaling if not surpassing the Natural Bridge of Vlr- giuia. It spans the creek at height of about 200 feet, and the walls Of the canyon rise above it on either side 700 or 800 feet, and on one side form a perpendicular pre,ipice. The bridge is of hme formation, and the inside of the great arch, winch is some 250 feet across, is worn by the water as smooth as though chiseled by the skillful hand of stone mason. The arch on top is nearly if not quite 400 feet in width, 1000 feet in length, across the canyon and at the thinnest part only six feet through. About the center of the arch is hole large enough to admit the body of a man, and through which one can look down into the crystal pool of water 200 feet below.
 The dike which forms the bridge extends in sweeping curve up the right side of the stream and together with the bridge proper affords sur face area of about one hundred acres of fertile land, which Mir. David Gowan has converted into fine farm. He has a considerable acreage under cul, tivation, and is gradually clearing the best portions of the land yet available. He already has small bearing orch. ard of choice fruit, vineyard, alfalfa patch, field of corn, and kitchen gar. den. Tobacco thrives wonderfully well, and two craps year are raised. Mr. Gowan raises only enough tobacco for his own use and to supply his A magnificent spring iS- sues from the right side of the canyon, at a height to admit of the water being easily cor ducted to any portion of the farm, and the volume is great enough to fill ditch four feet wide and two feet deep, and to irrigate much more land than is available for 
 The climate lt the Bridge is exceed ingly equable, being warmer in sum- mer and much milder in winter than that of the surrounding country, and to this fact is ascribed the wonderful variety of vegetable growth number ing some two hundred and fifty species of trees, shrubs, vines and plants. MT. Gowar found growing there tree from any he had ever seen, and no one who visited the place could tell its name. Mr. Gowan finally sent few twigs to the Smith Sonian Institute at Washington, and | in due time was informed that 1t was a variety of cypress known to grow only in Greece.
 The vicinity abounds in numerous fossils and shells, and wherever mois ture percolates through the calcareous rock beautiful stalactites are formed, Underneath the bridge are numerous caves and cayerns, some of which have never been explored, and which are lined with these opaque cones resem bling huge icicles. I \ The Natural Bridge has become a popular summer resort, especially with the people of Phoenix, and MT. |. H. Cook tells us that al the time of hls recent visit to the Bridge there were some twenty-five persons camped there. There are no accommodations for visitors at present and the place is accessible only by trail winding down the side of the canyon and very steep in places.
 Should the Central Arizona railroad be extended south over the route pro- posed, 1t will bring Natural Bridge into prominence as one of the won. ders of the Southwest. second only to the Grand Canyon in point of interest to the sight-seer.