The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1901-10-31
A PHOENIX SUMMER.
Rev. Harry Thompson writes About the
weather In sunny Arizona
Phoenix, A. T., Oct. 21st, 1901.

WOoNAOA IL -D-sAJ HAAAVAG'
Phoenix, A. T., Oct. Dist, 1901.
My Dear Editor:
Perhaps as the cold of winter
begins to close you in, short account
of our experiences in this land may
not be unacceptable to many of your
readers.
We have passed through the much
talked of heat of an Arizona summer,
and come out of it we'll and vigorous,
and for myself l may say little bet
ter than l was when the heated term
began. We have had one prostration
| from heat. That was in a laundry in
the city, and rather due to drinking d
poor quality of whiskey, than other
causes. The thermometer reached as
high as 1880 in town, but with us
near the mountains ia Q was the
highest record. This with our dry air
was not at all oppressive. The nights
were comfortable. In fact may say
we did not have any uncomfortable
nights all through the summer IN our
| locality. Of course we slept out Of
doors, under the blue vault of heaven
with plenty of breathing space. The
one distraction from sleep was watch
| ing the myriad of stars which shine so
clear and bright here, which converts
the careless observer into an interest
ed student. We are still enjoying the
luxury of outdoor sleeping, and may
be able to continu to do SO till the end
of the month. My favorite sleeping
place has been under little pepper
! tree. This was a mere shrub about
~ feet high when we came here
year and a half ago. I trimmed it up
for a tree and it has grown SO that we
could put a full sized bedstead under
| one side up to the trunk and the grace
! full dropping branches hang over the
outside of the bed, forming pretty
! canopy over the sleepers. The foliage
Of the pepper tree is soft and feathery,
not unlike fern. 1t is also highly
scented with very agreeable and re-
freshing odor. In such delicious en-
vironment the weary sleeper may rest
while the soft zephers from the noun
tains fan and cool his lightly covered
body, without fear of mosquitoes or
any other night pest to annoy him.
But he must be up with the sun in
the morning or the flies will give him
no peace. An occasional sand storm
in the earlyspart of the summer serves
only to give variety to this otherwise
peaceful and ideal mouotony. We
have had very prosperous year in the
valley. The town has built up in some
parts almost like magic. A number of
| fine brick and stone business blocks
have been added, some fine residences
and great many smaller ones, from
one to four thousand dollars, have
| been built. The rancherS have cut
four and five crops of hay, and are
now feeding thousands of cattle en-
pastures which will continue green
and growing all winter. Fruit is
ra Their scarce this year, though we
could buy very fine grapes in the vine
yards at one cent per pound, and april
cots at the same price.
| There will be comparatively few
oranges this year and these on the old
er trees The trees have made fine
growth SO that another year a full
crop may be expected. Water is more
scarce now than a any time in year,
but there are already signs of storms
in the mountains, and this water is far
better for us than rains in the valley.
| Already winter visitors are filing up
hotels and boarding houses, and. it is
expected that more people will come
here this winter than ever before.
Next Dmonth as you come down to
business in the morning and pass the
cold bleak Congregations church cor
ner, think of us in our shirt sleeves in
the bright sunshine with the thermom-
eter between 700 and 800 and need
ing no fire morning or evening.
With best wishes to all friends, re-
main faithfully yours,
H. THOMPSON.