The Florence tribune., 1899-05-06
THE FLORENCE BuTTEs.
A Woman's View of the Great Reservoir
 Site.
[Communicated.l

Prescott drives it's visitors out to Whipple Barracks; Tucson treats the tourists to trip to San Xavier Mission, and Phoenix doesn't fail to advise its company to get a sight of the Indian School and the ostrich farm, but Flor ence has for all, both visitors and citi- zens, the magnificent show of the Buttes. At this time, when the vital ques- tion of water is the topic most talked by every one, visit to the Buttes has added interest. Ten miles of the dis tance there is a delightful drive over an excellent road, past beautiful fields of grain and through small groves of mesquite, palo verde ana greasewood which just now are really worth look ing at for their verdure and beauty. Crossing the canal at the head-gates and the river just beyond, there are about five miles of sand road, varied with occasional short rises of rocky and bumpy nature, bat it certainly does not come under the head of bad road There are many places 'back in the States with so much worse-acorduroy road in Indiana, for instane e.
 The river is crossed for the second time just in front of the white tents of the Geological survey, party. and there we received most hospitable welcome. There wasn't doubt with one of the party but that they were really very glad to see us, and as Uncle Sam was sponsor for everything we immediate ly took possession of the camp. Every thing that it was possible to do to add to our pleasure and comfort was done, and we felt that the Buttes and the dam si te were only awaiting our com ing to begin the work which shall materialize that grand and much talked of reservoir.
 How you will appreciate the well come and much good cheer, but the essential thing to do is to climb butte, or part of butte, and be re- paid for the toiling, panting, struggling trip by one of the most magnificent views this splendid western land can show. But better than this, you stand and look down into the reservoir, a natural reservoir built by natures God, great basin with brim of solid immovable rock, hundreds of feet high, only a segment of this brim broken and lowered, and this to be built up by the labor and ingenuity of man, and this stupendous howl to hold there the priceless, glist ening water which will convert all this valley into vineyards and grain fields. orchards and gardens. As you stand and look down at the limpid river slipping by these granite walls with many curve and twist, and looking still farther away where oDly a silver thread of it is visible twining and curling in and out of rocky gorge and stony canyon, your mind let's go of the littlenesses of life and gets some thought of the grand Universal Mind which planned and the Hand which wrought 1t all. And for the good of man it was all intended and in such place one can not but believe that water should be free as air.
 The members of the U. s. Geological survey stationed at the Buttes are doing honest work, and if enthusiasm and skill in their labor, with strong desire to accomplish the longed-for result-a successful experimental res ervoir at this wonderful site-will help the project on to completion, then are we sure of the Buttes reser- voir.
 It was almost dark in camp when the highest peak of the North Butte was touched as by fire with the last rays of the setting sun, and Florence folks were still in sunshine as we drew around the campfire for social chat, only for short time, for climb l ing mountains and mountain air made sleepy-heads of us all. The cry of a coyote and the hoot of an owl were the only voices of the night, until one of the small boys of the party awoke crying from leg-ache induced by too much play in river and sand and rocks.
 They get up awfuliy early in the camp by the Buttes, but as they go to bed awfnlly early it was all right, and after pleasant forenoon spent in camp, the city folks departed for home, truthfuny asserting they had lovely time" and so glad they had seeu the site of the most wonderful reservoir in the West, and most devoutly hoping they may all live to see the streams of water rushing from it down into our beautiful valley. L. A. R.
 Postaue to be Reduced to One Cent