Arizona republican., 1916-09-17
VALLEY VISITORS
 LEAVE FLACsTAFF
(Correspondence)

cinity. The hundred of Salt River
 valley folk who summered here have
 dwindled down to few who were late | in getting their summer vacations and
 arriving here
 The first notable decrease in num- l bers was just before the threatened l strike The people who left at that time
 were all dependent on the trains. Those who were here in machines stocked up | on gas and tires and were independent l of railway service The next stream of south bound summer idlers began ' last week, when the people who had
 children were forced to return because | of the opening of the schols. | Every town in the Salt River valley | has sent at least few representatives 1 here. Mesa, Chandler and especially 1 1 Tempe and Phoenix were we'll repre- 1 sented
 All summer long Mary's lake has l been circled with tents of campers | pitched hither and yon. During the
 day fishing, reading or motoring filled | the hours between sunrise and sunset | while at night all gathered around |
 huge campfires. which sent their it. 1
 luminating rays fitting over the dark | | waters of the lake. The whole scene | both ai night and during the days was 1 one or perfect contentment and recrea- tion. Everyone had left the cares of | 1 business and toll behind. They came |
 for pleasure and rest alone
 Oak Creek, just twenty two miles |
 southwest of Flagstaff. furnished 1 summer homes for almost as many as |
 did Lake Mary. The drive from Flag | l staff through the great pine forests | down the steep road to the creek at the l bottom of the canyon is thrilling and l wonderful Once in the canyon ex- cellent hotel accommodations are to l
 be found at Lalomi Lodge, which is | situated al one of the most picturesque and beautiful spots to be found any
 where in the canyon. If one so de- slfes he may carry camp equipment with him, but for a short trip of q few days II was usually the custom to leave all extra luggage in Flagstaff and spend !
 the time at the lodge During the first part Of the summer the deep, mirror
 like pools and rapids of the creek fur nished interesting fishing, and event. during the latter part of the summer
 a good angler had nothing to complain 1 about. The government has prohibit cd any more filing on the land at Oak Creek. but they have surveyed a num- l Der or building sites which are to be
 leased al a nominal sum. The road is to be improved during the coming year and 1t is 10 be expected that the place | VIII De more popular during the next summer than ever before Every night during the summer the | | iittle camp grounds at the foot of Ob- | servatory Hill has been literally filled | with temporary campers People who ! have been travelling over the coast | route invariably stopped there Others | | have made IL their headquarters for l the numerous side trips around Flag | staff Everyone who was here by machine ] seemed 10 take in the eighty five mile | drive via Grand View to the Grand | ! Canyon. Probably more people visited i the canyon by machine this summer ! than had ever travelled there by that | means during all preceding years put l together 1 A number climbed to the summit of | the Frisco Peaks. Those who made ! the climb during the earlier part of the
 summer were fortunate to find deep | rim of snow on the topmost craigs | From the summit of Mt. Humbrey. with | the aid of glass, tney could see the l states of New Mexico, Colorado. Ne vada, Utah and California The Paintedsl l Desert and the Grand Canyon are won 1 derfui from this point of vantage. while the burned craters and lava beds {. in contrast with the dense forests be- ] 10" are something never to be for gotten. The sulphur trimmed summit of Sum 1 set Mountain and the ice caves at it's base. drew a constant stream of vis--t ltofs. These two freakw of nature have been the subject of much conversation and deep thought. Everyone who made
 the trip there felt doubIy repaid. After
 the long climb through the cinders to the summit a wonderful view of the Famous Painted Desert awaits the ! q TIT .1.g.. enters the ice caves, where by the light | of dimly flickering candles he gropes |
 his way back under lava beds. slipping ana sliding on the ice, with which the | bottom or the cave is ever covered | The ice caves are very refreshing after
 the long climb and descent of Sunset i 1 This drive is over boulevards eighteen |
 miles northeast of Flagstaff. The cliff dwellings at Walnut Can | yon' eight miles east of Flagstaff, just l oif the International Highway, Fort | Valley and the reservoir at the foot of | san Francisco Peaks. the huge Nam |
 moth Cave. west of Flagstaff. near Bel l
 mont, Woody Mountain, Crater Lake | and the cave dwellings at Mt Elder i were all interesting places reached by | an easy hours drive from the city |
 which furnished short side trips to | visitors.
 Dui HE the laIleT part Of the |
 rner number of parties drove over |
 10 the Snake Dance. Some went via |
 Holbrook, Meteor Mountain and the |
 Terrified Forest, returning by the |
 snort cut of Leupp and Talchico. Other |
 than experiencing some difficulty with
 mud going over the roads were found |
 to be good, especially via Talchico and |
 Leupp.
 There was not one person with whom
 The Republican representative has
 talked this summer that was not en- |
 loving their summer here The fact of f
 the matter is that Flagstaff is expect |
 ing much greater summer population
 rom the southern part of the state for i,
 the season of 1917 than was here the
 past season. A new $50, 900 opera house |
 has just recently opened and the citi |
 zens of the city have pledged them
 selves for another high class Chautau
 qua to be held during the vacation |
 months. Another improvement which |
 Will be ready for the summer visitors
 next season Is the building of one of the |
 most modernly equipped and best ap- |
 pointed hotels in the west Surely |
 Flagstaff is the summer playground of |
 Arizona.