Arizona weekly citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Ariz) 1880-1901, 1891-07-25
TO MAMMOTH.
F. B L. Agin on His
Travels.
THF GOODNESS AT ORACLE.
Some Fine Orchards Without Ir-
rigation.
The Road Nearly Free From Dust
T. OhlOriders at Mammoth.-1hs
Bunker Hill district.


moth is generally estimated at about
sixty miles, so in order to reach the
latter point in daylight, the regular time
of departure is 6 am. At that hour,
therefore, l was on hand and boarded
the stage for this place. After passing
the right hand branch Of the Santa Cruz
river, perhaps five or six miles north OF
the city, our course, which l should
Judge TO be nearly due north, is a
gradual ascent till we reach the summit
region called Oracle.
The steam pump ranch, owned by
George Pusch, and managed by G. Glass
man, Is miles from the city, is our first
stopping place, where the horses, as well
as ourselves, are refreshed with drink
of as fine cold water as can usually be
found even in the mountains. This
ranch was established about five years
asj headquarters for cattle raising
1900 gallons are pumped into tanks
hourly during ten hours of each day
from 125 foot we'll, and vast nerds OF
thirsty brutes have worn paths from
every direction leading to the troughs
for water. 1t has proved grand sue
cess for the purpose intended, and
doubtless could be made Of great service
in the irrigation of gardens and orchards
should 1t be required. Mr.. Glassman
told me of remarkably fine orchards a
short distance above, owned by Mexi-
can named Romero, where a great
variety of frnit is produced without any
irrigation whatever, the ranch being
adjoining the mountain.
The road is rather an interesting Q
skirting the western slope Of the Gaia
lima range nearly the entire way. These
mountains are for the most part cloth
ed with scraggy growth OF timber,
while the wide plain to our left is cover
ed with variety Of the cactus family,
the mesquite and other equally valuable
species Of the vegetable kingdom, while
beyond in the same course rise tower
ing peaks of other ranges of noun tains.
To my surprise / found the road COM
paratively free from dust, the soil being
| of good character for road purposes
| The farther we proceeded the better the
grass appeared to show and the con-
dition of cattle likewise improved ac-
| cordIngly. About thirty or thirty-ive
| miles north OF Tucson we ascend more
rapidly, the hills and Wales have q good
coating OF grass and clumps Of jack oak
appeared more frequent till we finally
reached Oracle stage station owned by
William Neil, the proprietor OF the line
and kept by Earnest Letter, who hashed
up as good d inner as any old bachelor
can On short notice; or our appreciation
| OF it may be accounted for partly by the
fact that noon time had passed about
two hours before. Water is here furnish
ed by means OF steam pump and q
promising little orchard Of variety OF
trees. all bearing demonstrate that this
locality Is not an exception to the rest
| of Arizona in the production of fruit
though the altitude is over 1000 fee
higher than Tucson.
One half mile further op, surrounded
by the loveliest o; shady groves, smooth
rolling hills, and cozy glens, is the home
OF K. s. Dodge, kept IS resort for
bCdllA bCChCA. SulIO u 6It
constantly coming and going, while
some have remained here for several
of the past months. DR.. Otto, Of Phila
delphia, a physician Of some note as an
eye specialist, is now here, and was
told performed a wonder in his line a
few days ago.
Mr.. and Mrs. Dodge are intelligent
and pleasant people, and are said to
make everything as agreeable as possible
for their guests. The Oracle postoffice
is kept here.
A few miles over stretch of romantic
hills and we begin to descend toward
the San Pedro. Three miles before we
reach the valley, where Mammoth town
is situate, we pass the e. cath Mammoth
gold mine. and have some duet on &C
count OF the hauling of the ore to the
mill, which is here in the valley.
L arrived here at 6 p. w., and have
since met Capt. W. II. Johnston, who
kindly proposed to show me through
mine and mill on tomorrow or later.
| also met Chris johnson, the discover
or and former owner Of the Golden
West mine, south of Casa Grande, and
at present operating in the Bunker Hill
district, ID miles north of here. His
mine is paying from the grass roots
down. He has quite a force developing
the property and bringing the ore to
this point, Having to pack it part way on
burros and haul by wagons the re-
mainder. II / can secure q conveyance,
l shall go up there, as there are items
OF interest to be obtained therefrom.
About twenty Americans are engaged
ID the district chloriding, and number
OF Mexicans employed to assist.
Mr.. Schultz, the discoverer of the
Mammoth. is here yet, and says he has
some good claims undergoing develop
ment.
Chas. DeGroff, proprietor Of the Orn-
dorff House, Tucson, ia here managing
the company's store.
Whan [ find nI,t how thA land laws