The border vidette. (Nogales, Ariz.) 1894-1934, 1928-05-05

oy ApacueS, IOVeQ Dy prOSpect
ors to this day. At Apache
Junction the Borderland and
Dixie routes to Tucson and East,
connecting farther on with the
Miami Superior alternative route
to Globe, are abandoned and the
Trail proper begins.
A few miles and the broad
ribbon of gravel enters the hills;
a little more and the hills give
way ito mountains. One ridge
gives way to another. until all
at once wide lake shimmers
just ahead. The Mormon Flats
Dam is concealed by towering
cliff Of sheer rock; other cliffs.
equally tall and equally sheer,
reveal the Salt River up which
power yachts take one through
beautiful gorge to the foot of
still another dam, the Horse
Mesa. just completed. For sew
eral miles the road skirts the
main body of the lake, and then
it plunges once more into the
mountains, now more rugged.
Ridges follow canyons. ALI
at once, after long ascent the
car stops, and one can look
straight down into Canyon Dia
bio for q shuddering thousand
feet. A turn, and only the ridge
is left. Father on the road forks
on little plateau, and if one
wishes one can make a side trip
down to the Horse Mesa Dam
itself. But this is not recon
mended for weak nerves, for the
Horse Mesa road is cut out of
solid rock down the cliff walls of
a canyon, and Fish Creek Hill, a
few miles ahead, is cliff enough
for most.
Fish Creek Hill in some re
spects is the high light OF the
trip. The highway rounds the
shoulder of mountain. and sud
denly the slope drops straight
into space. Far below, Fish
Creek can be followed by it's line
of trees; Fish Creek Inn seems
like a toy-house; on the other
side Of the canyon and ahead,
walls of rock tower into azure
skies. The driver shifts to low
or second, and for several miles
the car creeps along the cliff,
ever downward. on one side IN.
scalable heights, on the other.
nothing. At the bottom bridge
is crossed, and although other
cliffs still tower no one minds,
for the way is level now.
Fish Creek Inn. scene of many
stirring movies" that are more
thrilling than the history of the
land, administers first aid. The
highway enters q pretty little
canyon, bordered by a tinkling
brook and refreshing trees. The
canyon is left for another sue
| cessiou of ridges whose slopes.
studded with brush and cactus
and with flowers growing from
the rocks, seem positively peace
/, full. The Salt River, first seen
at Phoenix, is sighted again, ~.
ing blue amid the vari colored
hills where it has been convert
ed into Apache Lake by the
Horse Mesa Dam. An expert
guide points out the site of the
big new tourist hotel planned by
the Southern Pacific.
The scenery grows more wild
more rugged. as the road winds
q tortuous yet easy way farther
into the mountains. Across the
river Four Peaks stand in soil
tary majesty. The lake disap
pears aud reappears itsubmerges
an old section of the road, Dor.
dering the river, which is to be
abandoned. Presently the high
way drops to the lakes edge,
here merely a good sized stream
between the hills, and follows il
until fork reveals q side can
yon that must be entered. A
climb begins; turn and every
one exclaims, for Roosevelt Dam
lies straight up the river forge
lifting its gray granite masonry
220 feet in steep gigantic steps
Another turn and it is gone
The canyon is formidable one
almost sheer cliff. Presently j,
is crossed and the way resumed
| up the other side. One more
turn through q cut in the roch
wall and one looks directly dowr
on the dam and the lake tha
stretches from it for almost 81
miles in two great arms. A shOr
but steep descent, a few hun