Arizona weekly citizen., 1890-02-22
At CRITTENDEN.
The Rich Sonoita Valley-Richard &
Greeley's Ranch, and Improve
moz,Ss TtcreOu--N0tcs.

monTs TltcreOu--N0tcs.
The CITIZEN representative had the
pleasure of sojourning with the good
people OF CritteGjen for two days iasi
week. and was pleased t. iiad shcm ~
such excellent spirits over the future Q!
their. at present, rather small cts.
This is the shipping point Tor large
mineral country which surrounds IL ca
every hand, and which there has n9.
been much said about i. yet from tha
depot here there have been large loss
of ore shipped since the bui!diag o. tie
New Mexico & Arizona railroad. Oar
ing the last five or six months, s:iiriin. &;
has steadily increased, the ores conils
principly from Washington Camp ans;
the Harshaw country, until tho snip
ments viii now amount 10 fifteen car
loads a month Last week there were
five ears loaded and shipped from that
point. Large quantities OF merchandise
are received for the country lying south
of Crittenden, and heavy freight teams
are becoming a familiar object on the
streets. To be absolutely correct, I
should say that CrittenQea IS situated
% miles north Of NOgaies, and SIX miles
south CT the Sonoita Creek which runs
for miles through a valley which fer
richness and productiyeness j. not eX-
celled by any in Arizona. This valley
is practically a desert n0w, though
every acre OF it has long Since been
taken up by settlers, who, however. have
been prevented from making improve
ments by the existence of pretended
grants that have been floating over
their claims. When this disturbing
element has been removed the SOEoita
valley viii be quickly ana thlckiy EeJ
tied with happy and prosperous people:
the blight cannot always remaIn, ana
those who have been watching for years
deserve that measures should Ice in
augurated for its removal at the earliest
possible moment
The hills on either side Of this valley
afford the finest range for cat5ls the
year around,a thousands 81 cattle are
now located there, where they thrive
with but little care or attention from
their owners.
& Gormley extend from the head Of
Sonoita Creek a distance OF ten niles
down the valley. They have bought
and now own over thousand acres OF
land scattered along the valley for
that distance. This gives them
the control Of the water. and conse-
quently the range in the hills on either
side of their land. The SCnoita creek
is also reinforced three miles from It's
head by a fine stream OF water from
Monkey Springs, which is also owned
by these gentlemen. There is not &
finer stream o. running water
in Southern ARR 20 la than this, and the
flow is estimated at about 100 miners
inches Mr.. Richardson remains on
the ranch and has frequently directed
all the improvements that have been
made. and planned those now in pro-
gress. These bitches have been exca-
waited through the land intended for
cultiVatiOn-Ono on either side OF the
valley and one in the center, which
makes ii easy TO throw the water on
every acre Of land ) number Of tanks
and ponds have been constructed at con
venient distances FOR the purpose g.
watering cattle, and around each q
plentiful supply OF cottonwood trees
have been planted. About two hundred
acres are cultivated, and = beautiful
orchard is now bearing fruit Of the most
choice varieties. The newspaper man
went to the homo OF bir. Richardson, st
old Fort Buchanan, and although he
was away, the latch string was hanging
on the outside OF the door, and two big
hearted cowboys, Mr. Withers and VIM.
Davis. extended q cordial reception, and
proffered royal hospitality, which WAS
sampled and pronounced good. tIr.
Richardson here has erected corrais for
4 his cattle, where the most of the brand
ing and trimming is done. They are
largo and substantial. made OF heavy
lumber. He occupies the buildings That
were used by the military officers head
quarters. 1t IS sumptuously furnished
throughout, and an experienced China
man has charge OF the kitchen; the whole
place was suggestive OF ease and comfort.
There Is one thing that can be said
for MessrS. Richardson & Gormiey
that is not true Of ali the big cattle men
IN Arizona. What they claim they Own
they have bought and paid for, and they
enjoy the respect and esteem Of every
citizen of that country. They are libeT-
al, and ever ready TO give aid and en-
enlargement 10 any proposition that is
in its nature calculated TO advance the
interests of the county. Mr. Gormley,
of the firm, resids al Los Angeles, where
he is engaged in the butcher business.
drawing on the ranch for beef rs ii is re-
quired.
OLD FORT BUCHANAN.
While at Mr.. Richardson's The opportu
nifty was. utilized TO look around Fort
Buchanan which Is now q back num-
Der in the military operations or the
west. This fort was established IN lS5S.
during Buchanan's administration. 1t
was continued up to 1850. when tAG
Ind Infantry were stationed at the tine
OF the abandonment. Tee cid GdObCs
are fast crumbling into mounds. and the
few walls remaining ares cOi0Ped by the
hand OF time, and In 4 few years The last
of a once busy military post viii be OBJ
liberated. The old guard house IS yet
standing, but the huge iron fastcnings
that held the door secure against Oh
streperous soldiers have fallen from
their places.
NOTES.
Mir. Frank j. Harrington, is the agent
for the railroad at Crittenden, and also
has charge Of the smeller which has
been idle for nearly year. 1t is owned
by Messrs Marder and Euse Of Chicago.
Mr.. Harrington recently received 4 let
ter from these people inqniring about
obtaining special freight rates, with =
view of again starting mp the smeiter.
This smelter was erected for the purpose
of smelling ores owned by the company
in Sonora.
Judge Edward Tarderlip attends TO
legal business OF the town. being Justice