Arizona republican., 1896-12-10
ROMANTIC PAINLESS REGION.
A Land of Wonders, Ever Unfolding
 Some New Delight.

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 speculating as to their size, number of inhabitants, causes of growth yand inn agination may even picture well-paved streets, fine buildings, a people pros porous in business and transportation, engaging in rushing competition such as is characteristic of our Ameri- can towns. Let our traveller, however, face the reality in a visit to those landmarks, for such they might be rightly termed, and he will find an undreamed-of exis tence 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 I 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 a grain of sand is without inter est, for it speaks to us of a race long passed away, which undoubtedly press ed many weary foot to it's yielding bed.
 Of the accounts given of the old ruins, one in particular is full of inter est-that of the deserted town of La PaZ. You pass through it and no sound greets you but the echoes of your own voice or footstep. Not even an Indian will occupy any of the de- serted buildings. There are no inhab- itants save the silent 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 a sup ply station for government goods for the use of the soldiers at the different forts in New Mexico and Arizona. These supplies were skipped in by the way of the Gulf of California. Five steamers have been seen at one time unloading their cargoes at the busy landings and taking 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 dig gings, gave work to vast numbers.
 In La Plaz alone the population was 10000. Business blocks and county T factories, shops and saloons were in running order, and an era of prosper ity was passed that seldom has an equal. A busy day was signaled on the arrival of the overland freight trains. These consisted of 200 teams, sixteen to twenty mules to each wagon.
 On the outskirts of the town stands the walls of a church, restful object after hearing the weird stories of crime committed 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 oldtimer gives us prehis- toric bit: ''It is supposed that this old town was inhabited about 1700 by the Aztecs of the ancient tribe of Mon lcZuIld. R6uldluS Ol Olu buildings whose walls were 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 it's growth on the decay of the latter, owing to the river changing it's course, and better ferry being found there But the age of steam was now on, and the Southern Pacific railroad sounded Ehrenberg s doom.
 There is, however, prospect for a number of mines being opened up, and Ehrenberg may again be populous town. There are two stores for min CTS supplies, a school house and a sa- loon and restaurant in the town.
 MARY FENNELL, Teacher Colorado River Indian School
 THE I TATEST DATENJTS