The Coconino sun., 1927-11-25
BY Herbert v. Young


that the ground now worked by the
well known to the native Indians,
from the rich outcroppings on which
they obtained pigments for coloring
faces and garments. The statement
has been made that the United Verde
is probably the first mine on which
the foot of the white man was ever
placed in the territory which now
comprises the United States of
America.
From the available records it is
discovered that Espejo also recorded
visits to salt deposits, doubtless the
property now operated by Sodium
Products, Incorporated, for the ex-
traction of sodium sulphate, and which
is known to have been worked by
underground mining methods by the
prehistoric Indians residents of the
Verde Valley. Recent steam shovel
operations at this property have
opened up old tunnels which followed
the salt seams, and numerous stone
implements used in this work, to-
gether with other relics and a number
of skeletons, have also been excavated.
The settlement of the Verde Valley
by Americans commenced in January,
1865, when o party of pioneers emi-
grated from Prescott and chose a
tract OF land near the mouth of Clear
Creek, few miles below the present
town of Camp Verde, upon which
to settle. About 200 acres Of land
were cleared and put under ditch DUR
ing that year; grain and garden truck
were the principal crops. 1t is re-
corded that barley, threshed by hand,
was hauled over the mountains to
Fort Whipple and sold at the rate of
S17.00 per hundred pounds.
The fame of the valley as an agri-
cultural district spread and during the
succeeding ten or fifteen years the
greater part of the tillable land in
The Verde and Oak Greek country
was settled At that time there were
no railroads in Arizona and trans
portation was almost entirely by
means of the covered wagon.
Everywhere were found indications
that the valley had been inhabited
for many centuries past condition
easily cxplainable by the fact that
the valley was an ideal place for the
borigines to live, both from the stand
point Of food supply and Of defensa
The rich bottora lands were easily
tillable, and thes high cliffs which
overlook the Verde river and its tri-
butaries had numerous lodges on
which to build dwelling places safe
from assault. The remains Of these
cliff dwellings form a nevcr-ending
source of interest to the tourist.
There was wild game in abundance.
The life of the American pioneers
was hazardous, as Indian raids were
common The Yavapai Apaches were
a treacherous lot, and at war with
the civilized world. The appeal of
the settlers for protection was an
swered by the government in Septem-
Der, 1865, and detail of soldiers
was dispatched to the valley. A camp
was established at what is now known
as Haskell ranch, under the name of
Camp Lincoln. This camp was man
ned by regular troops in 1866, and
five years later was moved to Fort
Verde, or Camp Verde, as it is now
called. Fort Verde was abandoned
as a military post in 1900, all danger
from Indians being then considered
to have passed.
The Verde Valley at the time of
its first settlement presented far
different aspect than it does now.
This being before the days Of stock
grazing, the hills each season were
covered with luxuriant grasses which
grew waist high, making it paradise
for game. Herds of deer and ante
lope were common. The bottom
= 4. L.
forests Of cottonwood, sycamore, and
other varieties of trees. The river
at that time was said never to have
been in flood, as floods are known at
the present day. The luxurious growth
of grasses prevented excess run-offs
and the numerous beaver dams across
the river served as further checks to
sudden rises
The United Verde
Historic accounts differ as to
whom should be credited the re-
discovery of mineral in the Verde |
district. One account states that Al |
Sicber, the noted scout, made the dis
covery. In 1877 he located the
property later known as the Verde |
Queen. In the same year Capt. J.
D. Boyd and John Doughterty located |
claims However, it appears that in
1876 NJ A. Ruffner and John and
August McKinnon made locations Of
the Eureka, Wade Hampton, and adj I
joining claims A partnership was
arranged between the three, and a |
tunnel and 45-foot shaft were run.
The developments were encouraging; /
but, considering the present develop
ment of the United Verde at depth,
it is interesting to note that the
McKinnons seemed afraid to sink a
deeper shaft for fear they would
knock the bottom out" of their mine
and ruin the chance for favorable
sale.
In 1882 F. F. Thomas, who had
learned in Prescott of the favorable
appearance of these claims, visited
the camp and made an examination.
He became enthusiastic, and, assisted
by Governor Tritle, he interested
James A. Macdonald, president of the |