Arizona republican., 1895-12-29
GREATEST OF WONDERS. The Natural Bridge of
 Arizona. Description of a Recent Visit to
 the Spot. Where Man Is AWed by the Grandeur of Natures Randt-
 work.

FIagSta1 Democrat: MT. and Mrs. D. W. Thomas, who have been sight seeing for several months in the neigh borhood of Flagstaff, returned last week from an extended trip in the Tonto Basin country.
 MT. Thomas is eXtraVaganE in his expressions of admiration for the Natural Bridge as a scenic wonder. AS a natural curiosity, he says it out rivals anything he has ever gazed upon, with the single exception of the Grand Canyon and he has seen most of the wonders of America. The mighty waterfall of the Niagara en- thralls by its beauty and never-ending roar; the Gland Canyon is appalling in it's magnifiicence and immensity; but there is 8 subtle fascination about the Natural Bridge and its environs that draws the senses into dreamland, until one can well imagine himself in the land of enchantment or a guest in some good fairy's bower
 So overpoWering is the effect of Lhe sublime scenery in the canyon crossed by the bridge that men have wept as they stood by the river and drank in it's glory Among the visitors of the season was a young woman from Chi cago. She was scarcely out of her teens and of @ Render, emotional na- ture. Yet she chewed gum; and one day as she sat at the brink of the river with the ihabitual w,ad in her dainty mouth there were tears in her eyes. She was Weaping-and chewing gum.
 The bridge is a marvellous piece of natural architecture The rock spans slaYe been laid by Nature with all the mtcety of human handiwork. The structure is of solid rock and the sur face is as level as a floor It is $50 feet in length and 200 feet below runs the rippling river, hmpid and cool and sparkling in the sunlight. D. D. GoWan is l5he guide at the Natural Bridge, and he has cultivated the rich soil upon it and near it until now there is 8 small farm upon it's surface MT. Gowan raises all kinds of vegeta- ibles and fruits and when the Flagstaff party was there two weeks ago they in dulged in the luxury of second crop tomatoes, potatoes, etc. The frosts are mild and always harmless. Quail, duck, turkey and the larger species of game are plentiful and there is great satisfaction for the sportsman.
 Interspersed about the walls of the canyon are many caves which are wonders in themselves. One may find an entrance at one end of the canyon and an exit far away from the starting point Suspended from the ceilings of the caves are beautiful prisn1atic stal- actites. Tapping upon them a pretty musical effect is produced. Notes not unlike the tones Of a dulcimer echo along through the gloomy caverns un- til the waves of sound are lost in space.
 'fWhen the great Natural Bridge be comes better known" says MT Thomas, Git is bound to attract a world of sightseers. Inaccessible as it now is there have been "a great num- Der of people there during the summer and autumn. The proposed road from Globe will come within two miles of it. There are hot and cold springs of medicicinal virtue, and the Natural , Bridge is a charming resort that should not be overlooked. The Ma 'tural Bridge of Virginia is not in com parison''
 MT. and Mrs. Thomas were accom- panied on the trip by W. V. .Cartmell and wife. The distance from Flagstaff is about ninety-fva miles and the journey is an easy and a. pleasant one a.5 the proper season. . .a