Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-07-01
PLAYGROUND
Of GODS HAS
APPEAL
(BY HAROLD L. HENRY

| LII prehistoric udyS CLlC
Chiricahua mountains with
their gorgeous chasms and
towering peaks, their heaps
of giant rocks and their
great pine trees must have
been a playground for the
gods. In more recent times
they have been a hunting
ground Of the most savage
and war like tribe Of In
dians of America and on
the maps of the present
time they are represented
as the center of the great
fcattle grazing areas of the
entire southwest.
They are also represented on the
maps and in the minds OF those who
have climbed up into them as ono
of the beauty spots Of all creation.
The name is of Indian origin and is
pronounced, according to no less
authority than the district forester
as cherry-cow, The greater portion
of the Chiricahuas is included in
the Coronado national forest.
These mountains are flung out
along the border1and between New
Mexico and Arizona and they con-
tain number Of distinct curiositics
aside from the ordinary beauty of
massive ruggedness, swift little
streams and greenery Probably the
greatest wonder within the state
of Arizona with the possible excep
tion of the Grand canyon of the
Colorado is to be found in this
high range 1t is the Wonderland of
Rocks.
Wonderland Of Rocks
This wonderland. Is everything that
the name suggests. IL Americans
were believers in mythology they
would spin a legend about this place
and say that the giants or gods Of
the stone age lived or played there
and are responsible for the myster-
ious havoc that has been wrought.
The wonderland is a vast ruin of
great rocks. These rocks in them
selves would not be- uninteresting
but they become marvellous when one
finds among them images of mann
moth animals and Instances of bal
ance and bridge building that could
not be duplicated by all the strpc-
tural talent of this modern age
The wonderland has never been
explored beyond certain small area
near it's entrances. The extent of
the remarkable formations is un-
known and already the list Of freaks
in the way of thousand ton rocks
balanced on their little end and ami
mails cut from stone by the hand of
time, is a long one.
Marvellous playground
The Chiricahuas contain a play
ground that presents the nature lover
and vacationist with everything ex-
cept salt water. There are nu-
merous canyons in which cabins are
built under the trees in the deep
cool shade and in which one can
while away summer with no
thought of the swelterlng outside
world.
There is big game in this range
of hills. Big game of great va
riety. One may hunt deer, bear or
lion and if the hunter be interested
in camera hunting he may "shoot"
the sleek, cunning wild hog or that
grand American bird, the wild tur-
key. There are several varieties
of wolf and goodly supply of fur
bearing animals so that trapping for
pelts is indulged in by great many
ranchers in the foothills during the
winter months.
Rich Agriculturally
If one be interested in agriculture
this section is worth exploring for
it's canyons contain some of the
richest land to be obtained any
where and the water supply is, in
many parts of the range very ade-
quate. The raising of fruit, espec-
tally apples, is given much attention
by the residents of the more YER
dant portions of the range.
Many grain crops and vegetables
valleys although in many of them
the overhanging rocks keep off the
direct sunlight for the greater part
of the day. A practical idea of the
amount of water that can be OBJ
tanned in some sections for irriga-
tiea is given in the statement of one
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