Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1907-04-05
SAM THURsToN's LETTER.
Former OAC Football Man Tells
of Sights in Arizona.

heaTd anything concerning Sam
Tburston, of late?" and for the
bene fit of his many friends let
ter recently received from him i,
given in full. Sam is an old
OAC man at which institution
he was a popular student and
football player. He is brother
of Mr.. J. L. Jones of this city
and is known throughout Benton
county. Mr.. Thurston went to
Arizona because of lung trouble,
and he says:
Il am now at Alhambra,
Arizona, and am feeling some
better. I have to keep verv
quiet, however, and as long as
do that l feel as good as 1 ever
did. I am in bed about all of the
time but in the last week 1 have
got up and dressed myself and
have eaten one meal at he table.
l have lost little or no flesh, and
hope oy the time summer is
over to be able to show my old
self again. have great conf
dence in this climate, and am
sure that if can get health any,
where 1 can get it here.
Speaking of climate, one
can get ii here if it is to be had.
We have had considerable rain
and many cloudy days, but you
would not notice it in Oregon.
! Here in the valley. rains never
last more than a day, but it is
long enough to make the people
.orget all OF their religion. The
temperature ranges from 70 to
80 degrees in the day time, and
between 40 and 50 degrees at
night. For a few days it was
above 90 degrees and the hum
idity down to ten per cent.
"Alhambra is little burg on
the Santa Fe railroad about FIVE
miles from Phoenix. We have
a saloon, store and post Office, all
in one; no church, but good
dance hall. There is to be
dance tonight. Old glory climbs
up and proclaims it to the coun-
tryside.
"There are many sights here
that would claim your highest
appreciation. For Instance, 200
or 500 fat cattle in one field. with
the alfalfa up to their backs. II
is claimed that stockmen here
can raise a four-year old steer
and fit him for the market foI
81.
"Another grand sight is the
sh airing camps. Sheepmen
gradually work their focks down
the valley, or desert, aud all
sheer at one center. There is
one camp close to this place
where over $4,000 sheep are
ready to be shorn. The shear
ing is done bv machinery at tn
rate of 5000 sheep per day.
Buyers come here from the East
and the wool is all bought up
early in the season.
The ostrich farm is also very
interesting. 1t is all fenced of
in hat. acre lots ana each pair is
kept by itself. There are about
I 500 or 2, 200 birds in the vicin-
ity of Phoenix, claimed to be
the largest number in captivity
at any one place in the world.
''Indian blankets and relics
and the mounds of the old
mound-builders and many other
things are dear to the tourist,
but the most, impressive feature
to the Oregonian is the excellent
system OF county roads. Today I
watched a team hauling a wagon
with over 100 bales of hay on
it. They use what we call bun
dle-racks, and it beats all how
they load them.
"A1izona is certainly a grand
place to spend the winter, but is
rather warm in the summer. i
must close for this time. Please
remember me to all of my old
friends and tell them I would
like to be with them again."