Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1900-01-31
DESERT PROSPECTING.
Another Interesting Letter Describing aYavapai County Prospector's Ex-
 perience on the Desert.
A Scarcity of Water at All Places Visited-CaIiente Hot Springs.
 Prescott Visitors There.

Correspondence My last left me prospecting under difficulties. I found some very good rock but not enough to justify any one to do work on It. Whoever the parties were who were killed at the White Tanks must have been acquainted with the country as the Tanks are located on the top of the mountain and are hard to find. Near by on boulder is a map of the surrounding country made by the Indians and the spot where the remains were found as outlined by the figure of a headless man. Near my last camp there is grave oyer which is the following: Died for the want of water" Who he was, where he came from, or where he was going no one knows, Perhaps some fond mother is long ing and waiting for her boys return. Who knows2 In the latter sixties in Utah, came very near passing in by the no water route myself. The sui fering is indiscrebable. II the desert plants were better known 1t would often save life. There is a cactus similar to the suarro commonly called the Nigger head. It very sell dom grows over three feet in height and can easily be distinguished from the suarro by the thorns on the first. The thorns are gray in color, round and smooth like needle and white on the nigger head. They are flat at the base, with fish hook bent at the point and red in color. Leaving out the seeds the pulp resembles and tastes very much like a green water melon. By cutting off the top and squeezing the pulp one can get water to quench thirst. Any fair sized one will afford from a quart to half gallon.
 In '72 myself and partner, while down here, followed a fresh Indian trail to find water, over to what is now called the Alamo in the s. H. mountains. At that time it was Eagle Tall, and the Short Horns are now called Eagle Tail. The object after which the Short Horns were named is plainly visible the entire distance on the road from Palomas to Harqua Hala, and for miles north, south, west and north east. It stands up very prominent and resembles building with roof one way, but the names of the two ranges have been changed.
 It does not take great stretch of to realize how the weather is down here at times, when you see some of the brush almost covered with sand while others are standing three and four feet in the air with every bit of soil blown away from the roots. Paiomas has one general merchandise store kept by MT. Nottbush and a-well they call it saloon-but it Is the hard est combination 1 have found in the wild and woody west. 1 am not able to describe 1t. But, gentlemen, what will you take. a Rattlesnake. Stone fence, Renervator, Locomotive, Pick Private Smile, Collins Bown, Lache's Blast, Cocktail, Flash of Juhpsmith, Sangaree, Corpse Reviver with long sweeting, short sweeting or straight, it all comes out of the same bottle. But the main object has been attained, there is whiskey for sale. Flies are worse down here now than the worst fly time in Prescott.
 Cupid plays his pranks here as elsewhere. About year ago Mex iean family moved into this section with a daughter of eighteen sum mers, large beautiful eyes, round rosy cheeks and lips that were kiss able. Every time she came to the store the hearts of the young men beat quicker, but when it was re- ported that she was rich every young man in the valley laid siege to the heart and hand of the fair Rosa. There were but two, however. who received the smiles and fayors of the fair one, and for long time speculation was ripe as to which one would carry of the prize. not seeing any signs of wealth one with a mer- cenary turn of mind thought he would investigate the matter before going too far. so he asked the Mexi- can who had come with the family "Jose," he said, Il don't see that Rosa is very rich. it looks to me as if she was poor" "No, sir" Jose replied, ''she IS very rich; why she owns fourteen goats" The field for Rosa's favors are still open.
 Caliente, the springs and bathing here are good and it could be made into grand health resort. There could be an acre of ground excavated to any desired depth and divided into swimming pools and private
 rooms. The flow from the springs
 fills a good sized irrigating ditch,
 but understand that good title cannot be had to the land. But even
 under thelpresents condition there is
 a good opening for some one with
 enterprise to start store and board
 ing house, where one could get fair
 accommodations. There are quite
 a number of people camped here;
 several from Flagstaff. The Pres
 colt contingent is represented by
 MT. and Mrs. Len F. Hale and Dave
 Finkbinder. Both Len and Dave,
 however, are afflicted with aristo-
 cratic complaints, nothing plebian
 about them.
 There is some little excitement
 about twenty miles from here. There
 have been several good claims To-
 cated and there are quite a few go
 ing in. Water IS the main draw.
 back. It has to be hauled from
 here. Len Hale is interested in some
 of the claims and from what I heal
 and see of the ere his prospects are
 very good. I Intend to take TUT
 out there before 1 leave. There
 have been no storms down here anC
 every thing is very dry. It is i'm
 possible to get into the mountains
 When I leave here I will go into the
 land of the unknown, trust in Provi
 dence, but will keep my barrel.
 filed with water. c. A. B.
 General Joubert, commander oi