The Florence tribune., 1898-03-05
ARIZONA GOLD FIELDS.
W. E. Nelson Writes An interesting
 Letter
Prom Ills Mining camp-The Paradise of Hun- ters-0reat coveys of QualI-Song of the coyote-Fine Development of Hines.
lFrom the Quincy un., Herald.l

IFrom the Quincy tIll.l Herald.l
 MESA, Ariz., Dec. 3l.-Editors Her aid: This is truly the land of sunshine. They claim here that the sun appears 367 days every year, and one can al- most credit it, as I have seen but one cloudy day since my arrival. For one who has just come from the ice and cold of Illinois, it is very hard to real ize that we are in the same country, or that it is midwinter instead of early fall. The farmers are now blowing for their spring wheat and barley, and roses are blooming in the gardens. There is nothing to indicate that win ter is upon us. The thermometer yes terday showed S7 degrees and it was still warmer to-day (90). There is sell dom time that would require the need of an overcoat, except, possibly, early in the morning or after sunset. Last week they experienced the cold est weather here in the memory of the oldest inhabitant, this being simply a moderate frost for a few nights.
 The finest oranges I ever ate came from an orchard just back of our hotel. I have been feasting on them ever since came. All agree that those raised here are superior to the Califor- nia oranges in flavor.
 Phoenix is getting to be quite win Ger resort, owing to it's beautiful cli- mate, but to my mind 1t is not equal to this place for uniform temperature in either winter or summer. How many there are tied up in the cold, frosty north who, did they know of the beau tiful weather here, would lose no time in seeking this haven from storms in- clemcies incident to northern climes. In our blaming for future movements there is no need to put in a proviso about the weather.
 The amateur astronomer would go wild with delight here. I doubt if there is point on the globe where the starry Armament is more resplendent. Not being graduate in this branch of sci ence, will leave said amateur to draw upon his imagination fer as pretty a picture as fancy can paint.
 To my friends with dog and gun, I wish to say that this is paradise. Never before have had such sport as came to my lot during the past three weeks. Within one hours drive mere quail can be seen than is to be found in the whole of Adams, Hancock, Brown and Pike counties. The usual size of the coveys encountered is from 50 to 100, and many number 200. We found one covey the other day in the corner of a meadow, and when we fired into them they raised from one end of the field to the other, I would be afraid to make guess as to their number, but certainly 300 would be conservative.
 George B. Richards, of Kansas City and I arrived here on Tuesday morn. ing, and it being too late to start across the desert on that day, W. P Dunham who came over from camp to meet us decided to show us some sport at guai shooting. Before going further, wan to state for the benefit of any Quincy ite who may come out here, that if h, wants to hunt quail hereh he must mak, up his mind, and sooner the better, tha he can't kill Arizoua quail with nun Der eight shot. They will carry of more shot than northern duck. T. turn to my story; after dinner WI hitched up the team, and taking Mrs Durham and little son, Jim, went ou for drive, Mir. Richards and mysel taking guns. Whenever we came acros quail, Mir. Richards and would jun out and bag what we could withou following the scattered coveys. In thi
 way, in about two hours, got thirty one quail, besides several cotton-tail and jack-rabbits.
 The next day we drove over tn
 desert to Florence, about forty-iy
 miles, arriving about dark. In orde
 to give our team rest before startin
 on forty mile drive over the mour
 tains, we decided to stop over one da ! in Florence. About Il o'clock the ne,