Arizona silver belt., 1895-08-31
NArusrs WONDERS.
Interesting sights anG shcnoH'era in Gna
 county.


 Arizona abounds in natural sights and curiosities of great interest, few of which are as yet much known or ap- preciated, owing to their remoteness from railroads and frequented high ways.
 Gila county is rich in these wonders of nature, the most noted of which is the Natural Bridge, on Pine creek, in the northern part of the county, and which rivals the Natural Bridge of Virginia. It spans Pine creek at a height of 200 feet and the walls of the canyon rise above it on either side 700 or 800 feet. The bridge is of lime for nation, and the inside of the great arch, which is 25O feet across, is worn by the water as smooth as though ohiseled by the trained hand of stone mason.
 The arch on top is nearly, if not quite, 4O0 feet in width, 1000 feet in length across the canyon, and at the thinnest part only six feet through. Near Che center of the arch is a hole large enough to admit the body of 8 man, and through which one can look down into the crystal pool of water 200 feet below.
 The dike which forms the bridge ex- tends in a sweeping curve up the right side of the stream, aud together with the bridge proper affords surface area of about one hundred acres of fertile land, which Mir. David Gowan has converted into a fine farm, irri- gated from splendid spring that issues from the right side of the can yon. The climate is exceedingly mild and equable, and to this fact is as- cribed the wonderful variety Of veg etable growth, numbering some two hundred and fifty spacies of trees, shrubs, vines and plants, some pi them quite rare. The vicinity abounds it numerous fossils and shells, and wher- ever moisture percolates though the calcareous rock, beautiful stalactitea are formed, Underneath the bridge are numerous caverns which arc lined with these opaque cones resembling huge icicles
 Few residents of Gila county, even. are aware of the fact that forty-fve miles northeast of Globe, at the shan ley ranch, is a waterfall of surpassing beauty, and which, in the height of the fall, rivals some of the noted cas- cades of the United States, The stream shoots over the brow of the butte and falls sheer 321 feet onto a bench, and before it's tranquility is regained, it is again precipitated 900 feet, throwing oG spray which ia diHused by the wind and aparllles irridcaccnt in the sun light True it has not Che mighty volume Of Niagara, but surpasses it in the height of the flll--Horscshoe fall being but l5s feet, and American fall 164 feet, In grace and charm it rivals Minnehaha, which Iongfellcw's ir spiratiou made famous.
 On the ranch known as the old John Gray place, between Payson and the rim Of the Mogollon mountains, is the finest spring, in all probability, in Ari- zona. It gushes forth from beneath perpendicular face of rock, a veritable liver cfclear cold water, and which although possessing the. inherent power to turn the wheels of industry, flows on pnhindered
 Gila county boasts of a hot spring which is highly prized for it's restora- tive properties by the Apaches at San Carlos, near where it is situated, in the box canyon of the Gila, and therefore is moi available to plebei2n white men.
 Gila county, in common with other divisions of the Territory, abouuds in relies oe a race long since extinct chambers e6cayated in the rock, in past ages the homes of lhe cliff dwell lers, and monnds but little explored and pregnant with interest to the anti quarian.
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