The herald., 1896-10-11
/. RAINLEsS DESERT REGION
Relics Of q Race That Has Long Passed
Away
The Deserted Town Of La Paz, Arizona
Former Great Industries--Once IN
habited by the Aztecs.

Along the Colorado river on the Ari-
zona side. a traveller will find, by con-
sulting a map of this region, number
of names of places which he naturally
supposes to be villages or towns, and If
he is from the east he will fall to specu-
Iating as to their size number of in
habitants, causes of growth. and mag
nation may even picture well-paved
streets, fine buildings, a people prosper
Gus in business and transportation. en-
gaging in II rushing competition such
as is characteristic of our American
towns.
Let our traveller, however, face the re-
ality in a visit to those landmarks, TOR
such they might be rightly termed, ana
he will find an undreamed-of existence
among those barren mesas and sand
covered plains.
AS for myself, having been teacher
in the public schools of Indiana. look
back to some of our geographical les
sons on Arizona, which were based on
the authority of the best authors on the
subject, and / dare not say they appear
very fattering.
No account given can ever compare
with the seeing of this rainless desert
region, land of wonders, ever unfold
ing to our imagination some new de-
light.
Not grain of sand is without inter-
est, for it speaks to us of race long
passed away, which undoubtedly pressed
many weary foot to its yielding bed.
| OF the accounts given of the old ruins
one in particular is full of interest
that of the deserted town of La Paz
You pass through it and no sound greets
you but the echoes of your own voice
I atefn Nrf
occupy any of the deserted buildings.
There are no inhabitants save the 81
| lent ones that rest in the little cemetery
on the hill.
, About thirty years ago La Paz was
an important point on the overland
route to California, and was also sup
ply station for government goods Tor
| the use of the soldiers at the different
| forts in New Mexico and Arizona. These
supplies were shipped in by way of the
! Gulf of California. Five steamers have
! been seen at one time unloading their
cargoes at the busy landings and TAX
ing on ore
A great industry at that period was
| the working of the silver mines, and
this, with the bringing of the ore to
Shipping points and the placer diggings,
| gave work to vast numbers.
| In La Paz alone the population was
| 10000. Business blocks and county
| UullllilSS Wele ldpiulS Pit up, tHCotSiS %
factories. shops and saloons were in
running order. and an era of prosperity
was passed that seldom has an equal.
! A busy day was sigraled or the arrival
of the overland freight trains. These
consisted of 200 teams, 16 to 20 mules to
| each wagon.
On the outskirts of the town stands the
walls of a church, a restful object after
hearing the weird stories of crime COM
Initted in the dead of night, and how
many man died with his boots on
and no questions asked, and his name
| buried with him.
Then an old-timer gives us a prehis-
toric bit: 'It is supposed that this old
town was inhabited about 17G0 by the
Aztecs of the ancient tribe of Monte
yuma. Remains of old buildings whose
walls We're made of a cement unknown
at the present day, and no doubt the
art of making it lost, were found on
the second building of the town.
The town Of Ehrenberg. six miles be-
low La Paz, began its growth on the