The St. Johns herald., 1894-03-08
The Harvard Observatory.

tablISh an Astronomical Station Tn Arizona, an expedition started out the first of thls month to search for the best peak where a clear dry at- mosphere prevails, and there to erect a house and observatory for scientific and astronomical pur- poses.
 The expedition need go no far ther than Thomas and Ord Peaks, the two highest peaks of the White Mountains situated in the south eastern portion of Apache County. All the conditions of atmosphere required by the Harvard Astronom- ical Department exist in the White Mountains to an extent that no other locality in Arizona can sub- stantially claim.
 The altitude of Thomas and Ord Peaks is about the highest of any point in the Territory, being nearly 14,000 feet above the level of the sea.
 Besides the atmospheric condi- tions required by the Harvard As tronomical Department, we can say, without fear of successful contra diction, that no other locality in the Territory of Arizona, taken all in all, can begin to compare with the White Mountains of Apache County in natural advantages and fine scenery. No portion of this Territory is so we'll watered and better supplied with timber than the White Mountains, with their two great peaks, Thomas and Ord, extending high up above timber line, and we call special attention, right here, to the important fact, which should commend itself to the Harvard expedition, and that is, there is a magnificent spring of almost ice cold water close up to summit of Thomas Peak, and there is any amount of fine timber close at hand for building purposes.
 The citizens of Arizona, even, are. to great extent, ignorant of the fine scenery and great natural advantages of the White Mountains, In these Mountains the Little Col orado River, with its tributaries, which flows to the north, has its source; also the White River, the Black River, the San Francisco River and the Salt River, with all their numberless tributaries, which flow to the south, have their foun- tain heads Tn these beautiful noun tains; and ali'these chrystal streams gre filled with the finest and most delicious fish that swims-brook trout--and many of these trout streams have never had a hook cast into them. You can take pair of dividers and place one point on the  top of Thomas Peak, on a map of Arizona. and then inscribe circle of twenty miles in diameter and it will cut the fountain head of every stream named above. In addition to these matchless trout streams, the White Mountains abound in wild game such as black tailed deer, antelope, wild turkey, mountain grouse, elk, etc.
 Besides possessing the atmos, pheric conditions required by the Harvard Astronomical Department, % to invite the establishment of this  proposed observatory, we offer nat ural, living and enjoyable condi- tions not surpassed on this conti- nent. In short, as the Queen of Sheba said, when she went to visit King Solomon: "The truth has not half been told" concerning the grandeur, and great natural advan- tages of the White Mountains of Apache County, Arizona, as place in all respects specially adapted to the establishment of the proposed Harvard Astronomical Station.
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