Arizona weekly citizen., 1891-08-22
SAN SIMON. It's Extont and Capacity for AgricuIturalP Purposes VARIETY OF ITS FRUITS. The lewiston Minss-Description
 of the Chief Mining Enterprises-E c at- tic Raising and Other I'm
 portant Notes.

Though my stay at Solomonville was
 of comparatively brief duration, It was
 of sufficient length to grasp some lead
 ing facts, which are the key to a grand
 future awaiting this upper portion of
 the Gila valley.
 She has soil and climate of wonder ful possibilities, and has class of people
 possessing that degree of industry, in-
 telligence, enterprise, and undauntsd courage that shall form the nucleus of one Of the most progressive communities of Arizona. She has alsc such beauty of surroundings as cannot fail to awaken
 admiration In those who shall cast their
 lot with the people of the valley, if it does figure among the strongest induce
 ments to many in deciding their choice of home.
 Graham mountain at the western base of the valley, is one of the most charm ing retreats in southern Arizona. There are many small streams of pure cold
 water flowing down from the summit of the mountain which la adorned with a dense growth of evergreen timber, at- fording an abundant supply of lumber for all present and future needs of the valley. At the present time camping parties are enjoying the luxury of rest and recreation to be found whereabouts.
 On the afternoon of the Sth inst. secured passage on one c. Layton'o stage coaches between Solomonville and Bowie station (also called Teviston in honor of Capt. Jas. Tevis). MT. Layton is one is one of the prominent and sub stantial residents of Glla valley, and it may truthfully be said that no line in Arizona is better equipped, having new coaches and fine teams for the convey ance of mail, passengers, and baggage, and accordingly good time is made on his road.
 The distance to Bowie station is forty miles. Leaving Solomonyille we follow up the San Simon valley the entire dls- tance. The extent of this valley is com puted at about one hundred miles long by twenty in width.
 There is only one drawback to this becoming an immensely valuable agricultural district. viz: the scarcity of water necessary for irrigation, there be- ing no living water, though in raiIy seasons much water passes down its channels, gathered from the great water shed of its bordering mountains. Twenty-two miles above So!omonvil,e we come to the homestead of j. E. Bailey. Here we find good supply of pure water from wells of which there are three, 12O, 130, and 1SO it. deep, res pectively. The water oozes up within 35it. of the surface, aEd it is Mir. Bailey's opinion that artesian 1 water may be obtained within depth l of 300 it. The water is raised | with windmllls into a. 1000 gallon tank | for the use of cattle. Eighteen miles l further over level plain and we are at | the railway station where I am staying | at Capt. Tevis' hotel. The captain is one of the pioneer Arizonians, having arrived over thirty four years ago. He was one of the first rangers, and with the exception of the time spent in the militia. most of the remainder has been devoted to mining pursuits. The Tevis mining district was named after him, as well as Lewiston, which IS generally known as Bowie tation. In the Chiri- cahua range are said to be good sit for and 1t is Captain Tevis' be- lief that plenty of artesian water may be obtained within from 500 to 600 feet. His faith IS founded upon the fact that in wells of 300 feet sunk at Lewiston the water rises within ninety feet of the surface, and it is of excellent quality. When once the water question ehGll be settled favorably there is no doubt as to the great future of this section. Its to the production of fruits of nearly every kind that can be prod uced any where in California has been demonstrated in practical way by the captain in what he calls hisexperimental gardens, located close to the station, and which had good opportunity to sam pie. Some twenty or more miles up the valley are "cienegss" along which aS