The Coconino weekly sun., 1895-09-12
Resume of a Few of Its Many
Scenic Attractions.
UNSURPASSABLE CLIMATE.
Yields Rare and I,ountiful Har-
vest without Irrigation-A Few
of our AgriI ultural and Hor-
ticultural Productions.

Coconino county Is situated on the
Pacific slope of the great chain OF
mountains stretching across as the
backbone of the continent. The bust,
ness center is l,72l miles west Of Chi,
cago and $50 miles east of San
Francisco.
1t is celebrated for its historic associa.
tions with the ancient people who
dwelt here before the discovery OF
America and the cave and cliti-dwellers,
all of whom have left behind them in.
teresting evidences of their peculiar
character and mode of life. 1t is also
celebrated for Its enchanting scenery,
mountain, cliff and vale. Here is the
Grand Canyon of the Colorado, that
has excited the wonder of scientific
men and invoked the admiration of
all beholders. Here, too, is Canyon
Diablo, the painted desert, the petrified
forest, tho natural bridge, the bottom
less pits, ancient ruins, deserted vii.
lagos, around all of which, but each
peculiar to itself, cluster charms and
romance.
Here, too, is the great cave OF the
Monte2uma we'll for visitors to marvel
at, and the mineral springs Of rare
medicinal virtues, and multitude of
other freaks of nature that the curious
make pilgrimage to see and are always
rewarded for the effort.
The Grand Canyon is two hundred
miles long, and at this point is eighteen
miles wide and more than a mile deep,
and filled with an endless variety of
curiosities, massive, artistic and beau
tiful, on which the eye never wearies
of feasting. Then there is the mighty
river pouring through the rugged cliffs,
hurrying onward to its home in the
sea.
In historic interest, magnificent see
merry and natural curiosity Coconino
has no equal in any other part of the
world. 1t is also noted for its health
full, buoyant climate, its rich soil and
wide range of valuable productions
and natural resources, solid founda-
ton on which to build up homes for a
million or two million industrious PEG.
pie amid thrift. contentment and a
high civilization. The county is so
large, exceeding in scope some of the
Eastern States, and so peculiarly stu
ated with regard to physical conditions
that it embraces the milder winter eli,
mate of the north and the semi tropical
of Italy. AS you slip down over the
mountains to which we have referred a
broad plateau of imperial proportions
spreads out, having IN altitude of
6,SS6 feet above sea level. On this
plateau the climate is much like that
of New York, with the absence of
bleak storms in fall and winter. The
snow falls a foot and half and two
feet deep and remains on the ground,
firm and crisp as rule, until it disap
pears in the spring.
The transition from summer to
winter and Writer to summer is rapid.
The air at all seasons is clear, dry and
bracing. The average citizen pursues
his regular avocations from day to day,
lives well, lays up something every
year and enjoys good health. The
drop from this plateau down into the
Oak, Beaver and Verde valleys is
abrupt, steep for 500 feet, and then
gradual for 900 feet more. In these
valleys there is no cold winter, but
like gentle spring, fervent summer and
delightful autumn.
1. is now about twelve years since
the first experiment in agriculture was
made on the plateau, and this with
some misgivings as to the result in
consequence of its altitude and other
natural conditions. But the expert
menter was impressed with the
friendly atmosphere, the fervent sun
and rich soil; and, then, he saw growing
wild in abundance indigenous pota.
toes, peas, berries, plums, cherries fax
and hops, and be argued that where
suc.'' vegetables and fruit and plant and
fibes ould grow wild of so excellent
a characte, and ripen with such per-
ifection they would grow still more
abuudantly and OF higher grade under
proper cultivation, ana that all tne
cereal would grow also. His re., soh'nS
was good and the experiment was {.
pronounced success. Other farmers