The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-12-03
Much in Little
LETTER FRO1 ARIZONA.
A Henderson Young r1an Writes In
tertainingIy About the Far West.

Trc,oS, Pima Co., Arizona, Nov. "a.
EDITOR GOLD LEAF:-EncOuraged with
the improvement OF my health in this
Southwestern cline. | feel it a privilege
to write a short article, and, upon re-
quest, will gladly do SO, hoping you
will find place for it in your columns
instead of the waste basket.
For three years Il sufferer with weak
lungs, having hemOrrhage after hemOr-
rhage till my health was Il wreck, my
physician suggested Arizona AS the best
climate for cOusumptives. Reluctantly
gave up my home in Sumter, S. c and
came to Tucson the 23rd of August. This
town is situated on the Southern Pacific
railroad, 500 miles Southeast of Los
Angeles, California, and is completely
surrounded by barren chain of Rocky
Mountains. Its elevation above sea
level is 2 400 feet and population about
10000.
We have magnificent churches, school
buildings, colleges and sanitariums, and
several good hotels.
One must not think as did, and asso-
ciate the West of to-day with the wild
West of years ago. OF course, this is
country of magnificent distances, and
the manners and methods of the native
those of the East; but such as these have
to be looked for outside the towns, in
the wilder and more remote districts. In
the towns is found a social condition OF
cultivated manners and habits as else
where. The children go to school and
the people to business, pretty much as in
the East.
The savage Apache is becoming more
dOcile and has learned of late to confne
| himself to his reservation, except few
renegades who would not submit at
| the time OF Geronimo's surrender,
| These confine their operations to a wild
unsettled district along the Mexican
border and into which latter country
they carry their depredations. They are
recruited occasionally by a malcontent
from the reservation. The Papagos, q
tribe close by are peaceful and domestic
in their habits. The military forts, as
civilization encroaches upon them, are
abandoned, and the almost obsolete
stage coach makes it's trips unmolested,
save, indeed, by the American highway
man, whose operations here OF late are q
source of much trouble to tie law-abid-
ing, and the government, as well.
The populations, especially in and
around Tucson, is largely Mexican. The
lence, and when brought in contact with
the American, have to give way before
his superior intelligence and energy.
Their language is smooth and oily and
has considerable fascination for the
"Gringo" american nickname). They
cling to their adobe (ancient sun-dried
brick) fiat-rOofed houses, which are adj
lnirably adapted to the hot climate, but
which do not meet the approval OF the
American, who is gradually replacing
them with wood, brick or stone.
1t would be hard to find more lovely
climate than Arizona in winter, but for
those afflicted with pulmonary troubles
all seasons are suitable. The eXtraOrdi-
nary rarifed atmosphere is a marvel.
Standing in the valley in which Tucson
is situated, six separate ranges OF noun
tains are plainly discernable, almost
from beginning to end, the farthest be-
ing at least 95 mics distant along the
railroad, which leaves no doubt as to its
remOteness.
Even at this distance their outlines are
pretty plainly observed. Single trees are
observable on the face OF the Santa-Cat-
alinas, about Is miles away. The nor
NAL condition of the atmosphere at this
season may be said to be calm, with a
senses and vigor to the body. The per-
centage OF humidity is very small, al
most the minimum. The physicians here
claim Arizona, particularly Tucson and
vicinity, has advantages over Colorado
in that it is warmer, and California Or
Florida, because it is dryer.
No longer one has that tired, ener
waited feeling after a reasonable stay
here. | have assumed the rough, out.
door life, and have forgotten the seden
tary railroad Office. had not been
here a week before gained flesh, and now
weigh in little more than three months
after arrival, $50 lbs. My weight was
125 pounds when [ came. | have been
fortunate in obtaining a home with j
Knox COrbett, q South Carolinian, who
has done much for my health and wei
fare
trust the foregoing may be an hum
BILE means OF helping those in the prl
mary stage OF pulmonary affliction, tC
realize what this dry and bracing eli
mate means for them, before the disease
has taken deep root. OF course, for
those in the advanced stages the effects
of any climate are doubtful. | am CRATE
full to DR.. Mood, of Sumter, my physi
clan who candidly recommended Arizona
at the time he did Medicine avuils lit
tie or nothing, is positively harmful at
times. Turn to nature, in her favored
localities the great healer. If this
letter obtains relief for one sufferer,
Shall feel we'll repaid for the writing.
Yours very truly,
WIN. l.. CLACK.