Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1894-08-07
FROM The NORTH.
Latest from the North and
South Road.
The Extent of Operation and Prob
able Date of Completion. Min
ing and other Matters.

DR.. E. E. Prowell returned on Sun
day night from a weeks trip along the
Santa Fe, Prescott & Phoenix right OF
way, to Dixon station twenty miles
above the Congress mine and the pres
ent terminus of the track The trip
was made on horse back and was under
taken for no other purpose than to
gather all possible information about
the present construction OF the road
and the nearest approximate date of its
completion to Phoenix.
Officials and contractors have fixed
the time of Its arrival here at February
l or March l. They assert that the
former date may be slightly anticipated
but that the latter date is certainly
within their calculation. There ale
four camps along the line now, the
one nearest Phoenix being this side Of
the Congress. The Lantry Bros, con-
tractors, have three camps with about
$50 men each. Contractor Hughes of
Los Angeles, has a camp with about
sixty men. Last Friday the Lantry's
expected seventy-tive mules and car
of seventy-fve men at Dixon's station.
Beside these there are about 100 bridge
men, so that the present force at work
is between 600 and 700.
Twenty miles of the road have been
graded this eide OF Dixon station and
made ready for the track which can be
put down at the rate of mile and a
half a day. There is only one really
difficult piece OF rock work this side of
the Congress. That is stretch of about
three miles along the canyon of the
Hassavampa near the crossing.
A novelty IN the construction of the
road is that no liquor is obtainable in
any of the camps and no work is done
on Sunday. These innovations in rail-
road building have been introduced
for economic rather than religious
reasons. The contractors have learned
by long experience that men and
teams can do more work by having one
days rest in seven.
Dixon's stage is already place of
railroad Importance. 1t consists of
three boarding cars, two tool cars and
about thirty other cars for freight and
other purposes. All concentrates from
the Congress mine are hauled to the sta
ton and thirty wagons are employed
for this purpose. The nearest camp
this way or camp No. 4, is in charge OF
superintendent Brady and is noted for
the hospitality of the superintendent
and the condition in which the outfit
is kept. The mules are said to resem
BILE prize ANIMALS.
Considerable interest is being taken
in placer mining in the San Domingo
and Minnehaha Flats districts. One
hundred men are at work in the former
district making each from fifty cents to
81 day. Sixty men are digging at the
Flats.
One feature of the trip seldom men
toned by travellers, but in which Dr.
Prowell was very much interested, is
the Brill ranch, fifty-fve miles out Of
Phoenix and the first place along the
route which offers shade. All trees,
shade and fruit, cultivated in the val
ley save the orange are growing here
luxuriantly. One worthy of special
mention is a cottonwood twelve feet in
diameter. Its planting was not Inten-
tional. In 1868 cottonwood post was
sunk in the ground for an arastre post
Generous Arizona soil and sunshine
have done the rest.
There is here also large spring and
spring house strongly remindful OF the
same feature of farm dwellings on
either slope of the Alleghanies. An
unfailing and abundant supply of crys-
tai ice-cold water constantly wells from
the rock, and to the thirsty traveller OF
beast is alone worth the discomforts o.
the trip. The doctor suggests that 6
camping station be established here.
Last Friday night there was heavy
rain at Congress and on the following
night all along the northern part of tht
valley. The desert was almost in
undated and the roads looked like rush
ing canals.