Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-08-14
APACHE RESERVATION.
Passing Through Snowflake Stake 81
A Visit with the Salnts-Crossing
the Mouniains-Among the Ccdars
and Pines-A Rough Experience.


Stake, Professor Emil Macser. Brother
Hcber Larson and myself have now
passed through the Snowflake Stake.
sudden rain storms caused the Little
Colorado river to rise ~ high that we
were ponned In for two nights and a
day at Woodruff When we dld cross.
on Sunday morning. It vas high enough
10 make Il uncomfortable. our broth-
ron came out with an extra team and
some came on horse back 10 see US
safely over.
THE dam In this river at Woodruff
seems to be an assured success now,
though II has beon an expensive prop
usitiun. This little handful Of people
have shown remarkable perseverance,
IN that they have built and rebuilt this
dam seven times The water has found
a channel IN the rocks where " passes
over with comparatively little damage.
Built % quurried rock and timber the
latter coming from a considerable dis
lance, the dam IN thirty feet high, two
hundred feet long and wide enough on
top for % wagon ruad, while much
wider at the base. 10 cost $4,000 each
time ID was constructed. Whether 10
was because We had been 20 long IN
the desert or not, aa we came IN sight
uf the valley where Snowflake and
Taylor are situated. wa were highly
gratided In seeing such n beautiful
country. The striking feature OF the
headquarters Of this stake is the
unique manner In which II u built II
10 laid IN In right angles, The streets
are ruomy. the side walks clean and
well shaded with trees. Comfortable
houses and barns, show thrift and In
dustry. the SURROUNDINGS VI happy
people.
The Hospitality of our people In the
south ~ uucqutlod, Elder Jessie \,
Smith was at home and made us his
guests. while We were Invited out 10
different places 20 take an occasional
meal. Taylor u "a scattered settlement
bus ~ no small dimensions. II u sltu-
ntod on Silver Creek. These two settle
menta are surrounded By excellent
farming land. which IL abundant!y cove
cred with the staple products.
About fifteen miles out from Taylor
We commence 10 ascend the foothills
aud soon ind ourselves among lie
codars and pines. This r. rather re-
sreshing after 20 many days In the
desert country Unlike the pine coun-
Try in Utah, the saw timber here grows
on table lands and on rolling hills.
Here and there ~ "a scattered settle
mcnt and an occasional sheep ranch.
The whole country at this season uf the
year IL covered with grass. flowers and
oAUff NfhflaHous
Pine Pop N a branch uf the Wood.
land ward at the extreme south uf the
Stake on the summit Of the white
mountains. In this region several saw
mills have been Ia operation. but tho
government has lately sat apart THIS
timber land M "a reserve. our company,
however. had homcsteaded n quarter
section and IL Hull saving timber. max
Ing employment FOR many VI those AZ.
ISOLATED with this branch OF the
Church.
The timber reserve extends east
and west four or nye hundred miles.
and Il possibly ATTY miles wide The
writer used 10 think he had seen
plnerieH hut until now no was nils.
taken: this l. the most extensive region
whore the various varieties OF saw
timber grow he has ever seen.
The Apache reservation has It's north
boundary about two miles south % Pine
Top. and extends beyond this timber
reserve fully a hundred miles In extent
20 the ella valley, and fully ma fur
reaching east and west. Tho Apache
Indians have decidedly tho prcttiest
portion Of Arizona, and In many TO-.
Hpcots the best. II would be nu eye.
opener Indeed 10 the many who have no
good word Tor Arizona, 10 cover the
country We have truyoraed In the last
few weeks, Almost the entire surface
of the earth II covered with grnss and
flowers, while there IL q great variety
u bush and timber. The post oal.
not seen Of any consequence west ot
oklahoma, grows prnfuEcly here. and
stands up like tho Immense trees In
the forests 81 the Indian Territory.
Missouri and othor countries IN the
Mississippi valley. while nl0ngside Of
these grow the various pine trees the
walnut. the cedar and other Varieties
I known Im tho NNhN1m FaHuaNsIFFH o.
the south one may see many OF the
semi-truplcal plants and shrubs.
The Apache Indians do not diminish
nor do they make any particular pro.
gress except wherein some OF tho young
attend school and arc becoming edu.
/ Gated, IA for habits Of Industry. we
| did not observe that they were making
much heudwAy IN the north. scattered
up and down the various streams arc
/ the matched wigNumH and canvass
/ tents, tho Indian pony grazing uu the
grass. while the Idle Indian la PLAYING
among the trees and as we approach
the fort we md them loanng about tho
stores and other places. The Apache
! u only an ordinary looking Indian
the males dress In the Old style. 10.
Ing harrhcadcd and wearing long hair
down their backs, with red scarf
about their foreheadH. The women
dress In the caat-on calico robes OF the
white woman, ana IN similar costumes
uf their own make. she has no time
nj any rate 10 display herself. az does
her lordly master. Tor aho has the druid
gerry to perform.
Fort Apache IL situated on White
river, about thirty miles south OF tho
north boundary nf the reservation, and
about ninety miles from tho south on
the Ola river, Surrounded by hills
the fort ls In a beautiful little valley.
No camping permitted In the Immediate
vicinity and "a II was raining whom
We entered the fort We made appllca.
ton and was made welcome by tho
quartcrunHter, Lieut. Laning Parsons.
who dil all In his power TO make Il
pleasant for ms while we remained.
Llrut-col, a. u. Wells. chief Ia charge.
n very fine old gentleman. was courto.
Gus and accorded ua the freedom OF the
fort Can't. J, a. Cole was fellow
student ot our Lieut.. II. W. Young
and well acquainted with Capt. Willard
Young, Lloutenants Adams and Br.ea
also were courteous 10 U.S. These OH
GERS are Of tho Ninth cavalry. There
are two companies OF colorcd cavalry
troops and about two hundred and
thirty In all In the fort.
Black river, about twenty-five miles
out from the fort, was booming high
ana we were hindorcd some In our
progress, From now until Christmas
n the best season to travel In this
country, on account OF feed and water.
Rains commence In July. and by this
time the entire country "a meadow
u waving grass, ana water can be-
had at convenient intervals for camp
d.. b. HHHH.