Arizona republican., 1922-03-30
Between Trains There's
Lots to See at San Bias;
Strawberries and Gold
Also Roulette and the Mexican West Coast
ToIUn's TWo-Bmro WaterDorkS, Not to
Mention Husky SurUiUor of Socialist
Colony
By HERBERT COREY.
ARTICLE NO. II,

SAN BIAS, Sinaloa, Mexico, March
29. Time was hanging heavy on our
hands. Now and then we vacillated
across the street and watched the
roulette game. All one had to do
was to stand on the pavement and
thrust his head in through the door.
But the license exacted from gam
blers down here is so high that ii
doesn't look like good business to
buck the game. After ALL they're not
philanthropists, these roulette game
sters. even il they do let you shoot
as little as a Mexican dime. They
must at least get their money back.
So Van der Nailen and got to fol-
lowing the waterworks around. The
waterworks in San Bias is a small
Indian boy who drives two burros in
front of him. On either side of either
burro hangs canvas bag which has
been filled with water at the river
preferably just below the place where
the Indian women are washing their
clothes. because there the water
works can jest pleasantly with the
washerwomen as he dips water into
his bags--and at the bottom Of each
bag is faucet made Of a cows horn.
1t Is the most modern and up to date
burro waterworks we had ever seen.
and at first Van der Nailen and
followed to watch the Indian boy de-
cant. Later we followed him because
he did not liks us and made no secret
Of it, and that added a certain in
terest to an otherwise dull day.
Got concession From Obreeon
Van der Nailen Is a placer miner
on a big scale. and we got to talking
about his operations. Up in Cali
fornia he has been operating half a
million dollars worth Of dredges, but
he wanted to have a. look at this
country and so Obregon gave him a
concession. Only 5000 square miles
OF mountain. That's all. Almost the
size of New Jersey. He has been
having more adventures down here
dragging heavy mining machinery
,uD and down arroyos with OK teams
than some folks had during the
great war. One remarkable discov-
cry he has made is that what placer
gold there Is here is to be found in
the underground rivers.
when the freshets come down
these canons," he explained. 80 much
water comes and IL comes so hard
that the free gold is washed hell west
and crooked ell over the desert. But
we've found some indications in the
sands of the subterranean rivers that
flow ten feet under ground. Down
there the gold can't wash"
1t was at this moment that a blue
eyed old gentleman rode up on
white horse. White hair curled about
his forehead. A white beard turned
up beneath his chin. He sat his
horse like centaur, as why should
he not, being little more than so years
old. and told Van der Nailen that he
had cached the Strawberries in the
hotel. He had toted them in from the
ranch. he said. and they were the
finest strawberries you ever tasted
and he wanted Van der Nailen to pay
some attention to them.
Morris Free Was q Socialist
There was a hint of accent In the
voice of the blue eyed, white haired
old man. Van der Nailen's secretary
said he thought the blue eyed old
gentlemean was Scotch. Van heard
us.
"You goniff," said he 10 the old
man.
"Oi. yoi," chuckled Morris Free.
He came to this country 80 years
ago with the Robert Dale Owen So
cialist colGpy, he said. The Social
list colony did what Socialist colonies
have always done. J. quarreled. 1t
squatted on land that was rich
enough in this benevolent climate TO
have made each colonist a wealthy
man. Anything can be raised here.
There is water enough with which
to irrigate and labor is plentiful and
cheap. But the Socialists quarreled.
The theory was that the colonists
would work a few hours a day and in
those few hours provide for the nec-
essities of life. so that the rest OF
their time could be given over to i'm
provement and enjoyment. But those
who worked discovered that others
only talked. SO the colony broke up
There are a few Of the old colonists
scattered about these parts, but they
are no longer Socialists.
1t was drawing on to train time.
Morris Free said goodbye and start
ed at q gallon for his ranch, 80 miles