Arizona republican., 1911-08-23
ALONG THE BY WAYS
 OF THE NEW STATE
Description of Oak Creek, Famous
 Trout Stream.

simply by the impressions conveyed by trip, over either the santa Fe or the Southern Pacific railroads, the story seems almost incredible.
 one must leave the railroad in Ari- zona as well as in any of the eastern states. and go across the country, |" see and to enjoy what nature has built. and what man has not destroy ed in carrying out his progressive ideas of the present age.
 An educated Indian in charge of party of his race. passing through an eastern city street, lined, on either side with towering skyscrapers. was asked by a guide. why his friends seemed to take these wonders of
 the rchitects skill in so matter of
 fact a manner. Don't you under
 stand. my friend" replied the Indian.
 These children of the great west
 have been reared among the mag
 nificent works of nature, in com
 parison to which these buildings seem
 as nothing wonderful to them"
 Perhaps we can all appreciate this explanation of the lack of enthusiasm
 on the part of the Indians when We stand on the rim of the Grand Can yon of the Colorado, Glacier Point at Yosemite; or at the foot of Oak Creek canyon where We can gaze up ward nearly two thousand feet on the wonderful red sandstone perpendicu lar cliffs on the one side, and the rock ribbed mountain sides. covered with stately pine trees on the other; the clear waters of the creek below flowing peacefully on. occasionally flashing over the huge rocks that have been washed into its bed by the torrents in time of heavy mountain storms.
 The visitor to oak Creek canyon must learn first how to reach this interesting resort. We have an idea that in these days. no place is SD ob scure. but anyone with ordinary in tclliEoncc can reach it. \ stage was advertised, carly this season, to run from Flagstaff to oak Creek on Cer- tain days of the week. As no passen-
 gers happened to present themselves
 on the first trip. the entcrprisng
 stage driver became faint-hcatcd and
 threw up the job" Therefore there
 is no regular mode of travel except
 by hired conveyance.
 on arriving at Flagstaff we were informed at one hotel. that thor' was no staCc-as We had depended
 upon. at another the same informa-
 ton was given us: on the street every
 one who looked as though he might help us out. claimed to know noth- ing about it. every ono had heard of oak Creek canyon, and We were told that. owing to the recent rains the roads were impossible and there vas nothing doin % in that direc- tinn but having traveled twelve hours
 to reach Flagstaff and the first train for Ash Fork would not be in for several hours. We did not propose to abandon all hope SO carly
 Finally after summing up all the information We had gathered from various sources. we concluded that what Rabbit Bros" did not know or did not own about Flagstaff was not worth the knowing.
 Remember this last statement. my
 reader and save your time and tenn per by going to Babbitts store when  of information
 Through them We were finally on our way to our destination.
 We drove for thirteen miles through | the beautiful Coconino forest. enjoy | inC the glorious view of the San Francisco peaks-and by tn" way We found the roads the entire trip | much improved by the recent rains. Suddenly we came to the rim of the
 caryor: as We looked below us at
 the road o-cr which we must drive to reach the bottom of the decr chasm. our hearts stood still: then
 We mustered all our grit and whis- pcrcd that we were never scared at
 such little things.
 Was ever so steep a trail made for l teams? Were ever turns SO sharp, where it seemed as though one mis- step on the part of a horse, or a
 careless jerk of the wrong rein,
 might hurl, horses, driver and pas scngcrs over the steep mountain side
 into eternity.
 This one mile trail seemed ten, but
 it brought us to the foot of the can
 yon. and the rest of the drive was over a fine sandy road through ferns | and shrubbery of the variety we were
 accustomed to seeing in our eastern homes. The magnificent cliffs and mountains rising all about us. After crossing the creek eleven
 times we came in sight of the beau 1 tiful rustic house, the home of Mir Low Thomas, nestled costly at tn. | foot of cliff, ornamented in a most | artistic manner by trailing Virginia crceper and the old-fashioncd trum- | pet vine blossOming over the side,
 and roof of the cottage. with d beau
 tiful weeping willow. in one corner
 or the little vinc-covercd stonc-wallc,
 garden standing, solemnly guarding
 the blossoms in the old-fashione'
 flower beds beautifully. cared fo
 and particularly attractive in thi
 part of the world.
 | Driving on but a short distance W
 all at once came upon Loloma
 Lodge" which was to be our shclte for a month. Inside the big gate w noticed the picturesque rustic bridges leading to the Lodge" The re,
 stone walled terraces from the iron of the house down to the creek. The Lodge" a two-story and case inert structure is built of pine log and is a tvpica! lodge" and in styl