The Coconino weekly sun. [volume] (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 1891-1896, 1895-12-19

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California, that is said to be the hottest
place Oh the Pacific coast. hut here
the physical conditions, to which we
have before referred, come in to soften
or modify the climate Of the valleys,
the great pine forest on the north and
the lofty mountains to the south send
ing down their distinctive individual
influences to meet in the valley and
blend with the hot rays of the sun and
other conditions there found and make
a climate and atmosphere all their
own. peculiar to that locality, and
which cannot be excelled.
The scenery is also distinctive and
beautiful, so unusual that one finds
himself lost in revery, looking, wonder
ing and admiring. Yonder are the
towering mountain peaks, away in the
distance, with their snow-crowned crests
breaking through the clouds and send
ing the fragments floating off to join
with others or may he to gradually
fade away, dissolve and show in the
background others totally different in
form and color. Then there are a
multitude of small peaks shooting up
here and there of ali shapes and vary
ing heights, one is made up of high
rocks, as though thrown together by
some wild force in the most irr, gular,
chaotic way, with its naked sides and
bald skull standing in resolute defiance
of storm and time. Another is covered
with q thick coating of evergreen
trees and shrubs dressed with richest
foliage from the base to the summit,
and all around are bursting springs
and ripping water. Then there is the
box.like canyons, whose walls are
thousand feet high, cut out of the
solid rock to make way for Oak
creek to run through in playful cas-
cades. Back to the north is the pri.
meval forest, with scattering trees
whose giant forms, with king.like
majesty, sway in the wind far above
all the rest
In the valley are groves of sugar
naples, lonely beech, walnut,
an ironwood and poplar standing
like sentinels on guard over their wild
haunts of nature. Then there is a grove
of grand old oaks around whose trunks
the ivy has entwined its stems and
branches in caressing fondness, then
the queer meadows stretching away
to the eastward as far as the eye can
reich, carpeted with wild flowers, whose
fragrance ladens the air with sweetest
perfume. And yet with all these
charms Of massive wild scenery and
delicate beauty, there are men so dull
of appreciation or so wrapped up in
themselves that they would pass
through those valleys and see nothing
to enjoy or admire, not flower Or a
tree, unless they stumbled up against
one. Such men are like swine in a
flower garden, unconscious of the beau.
ties with which they are surrounded.
But the consolation is, such men are
few.
Here, too, are the "reminiscences Of a
prehistoric race, and they were su-
perior people to any of the Indian
tribes that have inhabited this region.
They were extinct before the Indians
found their way here and the evidences
they left behind show clearly that
they were an agricultural people, in
dustrions, domestic and religious ac-
cording to their lights. The rui,.s of
adobe and stone houses, temples, idol
trous gods, utensils for agricultural
and domestic uses, the long well
constructed artificial waterways, are
conclusive proof Of their character,
habits and skill. 1t is lamentable
that history is silent on so interesting
a subject, and it is equally lamentable
that history commences with the I'M
justifiable raids, falsely styled explo-
rations, of that Spanish outlaw, Coro.
nado, remorseless, pitilcss, brutal.
He wandered through the country in
1889 at the head of band of ruthless
marauders, who stayed their vandal
hands at the verge of 10 crime, but
were guilty of all, murder, theft and
rape. Ultimately an outraged mustang
very properly kicked him in the head
and finally put an end to his infamous
career. Recent excavations have
brought to light many interesting relics