Weekly Arizona journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1903-1908, 1903-08-12
PICTURESQUE PANORAMA OF
ROMANTIC MOUNTAIN SCENERY
A Veteran Newspaper Man Gives Graphic
Description Of a Visit to Rich Mineral
District South of Prescott.

Prescott. Aug. >. lSOO. Mr.. Editor
1t would be difficult TO discover, il
Arizona or elsewhere, a more pic
turesque and romantic panorama OF
mountain scenery than can be viewed
from the road leading south from
Prescott toward the Bradshaw range.
and that is why your correspondent
gladly accepted an invitation to make
fourth to party of three who were
visiting some mining claims near the
head of Turkey creek, twenty five
miles distant among the rolling pine
clad foothills
One brilliant, cloudless morning
last week We rolled swiftly through
the quiet streets of Prescott behind a
lively team, before many of the citi-
zens had breakfasted, and as we drove
along the banks of Banning creek to
its headwaters and expanded our lungs
in the fresh and bracing atmosphere,
redolent of the balsamic od0rs of pine
and fir, We felt amply repaid for our
early rising, and our spirits rose with
the sun as we mounted higher above
the tall crests of the forest trees. The
landscape was fresh and green 1rom
the recent rains, the trees had adorn-
ed themselves with new summer fol-
iage. and everywhere luxuriant under
brush and new grown grasses advanced
to the very edge of the road.
From Groom creek to the deep lying
canyon of the Hassayampa, we passed
constant succession OF mines and
mills many of them known to fame
and crawling up alongside of the great
Senator mine, with its mighty dump
looming above US we looked down on
the mill of the Storm Cloud and the
Cash, through the tops OF the crowd
ing frs, whose crests were many hun
dred feet below us. Mounting still
higher along the side Of Senator
mountain, we left to our right the
roads leading TO the Dunkirk and to
the mines on Slate creek, and soon
reached the high, narrow divide that
separates the head of Maple Gulch
from Crooks Canyon. Here the U. S.
geological surveyors have placed one
of their iron Monuments. informing
the general public that the altitude
above the blue Pacific is 7IS7 feet
thus showing US that we had climbed
some 1000 feet above the court house
square of Prescott.
This monument marked the highest
point reached on our drive; and now
we turned to the south and plunged
down the steep winding grades of
Crook Canyon, the widest, toughest
gorge in these mountains, and cele-
brated for the Crook and other
mines; noteworthy producers, which
do not produce now, merely because
they are not worked; at least so say
the old time miners who know the
district. Milk creek Is the name of
the gulch that threads the lowest
depths of Crooks Canyon; and one
cannot help thinking that the first
corners must have been woefulIy lack
ing in imagination e they could think
OF no more suitable appellation to ac-
company so wild, lonely and pie
turesque a landscape. The abrupt
mountain slopes are covered from top
to bottom with lofty frs that spring
from tangle of underbrush and
trailing vines, and the road is border
ed with li0tous profusion Of noun
tain grasses, ferns and brilliant wild
flowers; and we made frequent stops
to secure and admire some new botan- F!
ical specimen.
a few miles of Milk creek brought
us to low divide from which the
road drops over into Turkey creek
about five miles from its source; and /
soon after We pulled up at Johnson's
station with its we'll of the clearest
and coolest Of spring water within a
few feet OF the surface. Here there
may be had food for the hungry.
drink for the thirsty and beds for the
weary; but "a we were near our Jour
ney's end we merely stopped a few
minutes to give our horses a breathing
spell while We enjoyed chat with the
natives, snent the mines in the gicin-
ity. a few rods below the station we
noted the ruins of the old Morning
Glory mill, and high on the westward
mountain slope the dumps Of the mine
itself. which has not been worked
since :he burning down of the mill
A mile or so further down Turkey
creek are the ruins Of the ten stamp
mill of the Bully Bueno mine, relic
Of Indian times. This mill was also
destroyed by fire, supposed to have
been started by spiteful Apachez, in
revenge for the death of more than
one Of their bloody tribe at the hands
of the long suffering miners and mill
men. 1t was here that the leg of an
Apache, who lost his life in an at
tempt on the mill. was conpsicuously
nailed to pine tree by JEFF Davis.
the we'll known old time miner, as
grim warning to All whom it might
concern.
From Johnson's. formerly Coy's
station, We turned TO the left from the
main road and after drive OF a mile
across a moderately steep divide, we
reached the stables Of the Cumberland
Mining company in Pine Flat.and had
arrived at orr destination. Pine Flat
is a low lying circular basin about
half mile in diameter. ana covered
with fine grove Of tall pine trees, in
which spacious clearing has been
cut, leaving a wide grassy lawn,
around which are the various camp
buildings. Including dwelling house.
bunk houses, boarding house. assay
Office, etc, of the company. Here
also, on the steep bank Of Pine creek,
which skirts the clearing is a large
building covering a ten stamp mill
nearly completed. whose stamps will
soon be dropping on ore from the
Cumberland mine, and from other
properties Of the company, whose ore
dumps may be seen dotting the sur
rounding slopes.