Arizona republican., 1911-11-03
Incomparab|e Resources 0F
 The Arizona Strip" VERITABLE TERRA INcOGNITO
Outline of Wonders Un- yelled to Miss Sharlot Hall, Arizona Historian, During 9 Weeks Sojourn North of Grand Canyon.

Miss Sharlot Hall has just returned from a summer spent in travelling with a wagon over that little known corner of Arizona lying north of the Colorado river and known to our nrthern neigh bors as the Arizona strip This is the territory which Utah has long cov- eted and which she has tried to obtain through action of congress for some years past
 The average Arizonan has known so little about this part of the state that the one reason generally held for not giving it to Utah free gratis was that We should thereby loose one wall of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado river, which now lies wholly within Arizona. Beyond this bit of sentiment few people have had any idea that there were multitude of reasons why we could no more afford to give up this country than a mining company could afford to give away it's richest undevelOped ground
 This part of Arizona does not look very big on the map but it is in truth big enough to make a state or two, as Eastern states go. and its business DOS abilities are as varied as the face os the country itself-and no part of Ari- Zona presents greater contrasts in scenery, altitude, and general condi- tions
 When the good roads" movement crosses the Grand Canyon it will be seen that this neglected and unkno VII region can pay its way as we'll as any part of the state. At present the lack of roads. trails. and safe ferries pre- vents the sort of exploration that would lead to active development: but once the great river is crossed there is no part of the country over which roads might not be made at reasonable cost and without serious engineering diff culties
 The bridge which the government has undertaken to build across the Lit tie Colorado river below Black Falls and on the old Lees Ferry Wagon Road will be an example in the way of opening up new business possibilities. This river with its bed of uuicksand and its frequent seasons of high water has always discouraged travel and freighting; mining companies operat- ing in the region beyond have prefer red to bring their supplies from south ern Utah rather than take the risk and the Arizona towns along the Santa Fe have lost a good trade in consequence
 Miss Hail crossed this stream. which was then half a mile wide, with the water reaching the wagon bed in places and two mounted men pulling with ropes on the wagon tongue to keep the outfit moving over the quicksand. but in a few months safe crossing may be made over the new bridge.
 Between this crossing on the Little Colorado and Lees Ferry on the Big Colorado lies the most wonderful and beautiful part of the Painted Desert a region which already draws tourists from the Old World and which will, as it becomes better known, be regard ed as Of equal importance with the great canyon itself The development of mineral in this region is sure toI come with fuller explorations: beds of sodas of unknown extent exist and flour gold in paying values has been founj over almost the whole area. Then, too, the petrified forests continue the whole distance into southern Utah and are very slightly explored
 This region has some fine pre-his- tOric remains buildings and picto graphs, but little known, and some pie turesque groups of settlements made by the Mormon immigrants but now included in the Navajo Indian reser- vation. It was a custom of these peo- pie to plant good orchards and vine yards as soon as they found footing in new place and they have left be- hind old fruit trees and huge vines whose loads of fruit prove what might be done at fruit farming in the shelt cred spots where water is obtainable.
 The Lees Ferry on the Colorado was the next point reached. about 150 miles from Flagstaff. The roads the entire distance are no worse than might be expected in a country where no road work is done and summer floods are frequent. The county of COconino now maintains a good. safe ferry boat at this point and the Lees Ferry Mining Company has put the worst grades in passable condition. Automobiles have been taken out from Flagstaff to the Ferry and it would be possible to ex tend the north and south auto trip over this wonderful region.
 Though the Grand Canyon proper be- gins below Lees Ferry the Cliffs at that point are unique in beauty and more gorgeous in coloring than at any other point. being of the richest dark reds which have caused them to be cal led the Vermillion Cliffs. This same coloring extends on nOrthward in the cliffs that will the great valleys be- tween the Pahria and Kaibab plateaus. making a region of wild vet splendid scenery. canyons, cliffs, strangely erod- ed peaks. all in hues vivid and glow ing beyond belief.
 The region beyond the Colorado riv- CT has been known to the Mormon peo- ple for half century and was thor