Year: 1877

Santa Cruz Valley, Ranches and

 sGOck-CerrO Colorado and Guija

 Mining OperRtIOns-The Ar1Vaca

 Ranch Ostrich MiII-Che Yellow

 Jacket and Old Mines.

 From a member of the party which recently visited the Guija and Yellow Jacket mining districts, mentioned in our last issue, we obtain the following items concerning the important section directly southward of Tucson:

 The valley of the Santa Cruz from San Xavier to Tubac is covered with thick and rich grasses, that grow lux uriantly everywhere land furnish food for numerous herds of cattle. All along the road fine, fat cattle were seen graz ing and their condition is a marked contrast to that of stock in California during the present dry season in that State. Ar. Jesus Ma. Elias has his stock on the ranch just sonth Of the Papago Indian reservation, and they find abundant pasturage and plenty oi water Tn the bottom land and are look. ing well. Atthc old VanAlstine place south of Punta de Agua, more fine cattle were seen, and at Maish & Dris coils lower ranch, some of their cattle and a flock of goats were having an easy life. The Sahuarito, next south along the river, is now unOccupied, as the owner, Mir A c. Benedict, has moved to hIs farm and ranch at Hua babi, south of Tubac, on the rich land whereabouts. Fully < Ochoa, at their old sheep camp have good many cattle and several large fine bulls were particularly noticeable At this place, the water has to be pumped and the owners have built q reservoir, which they keep constantly full by pump worked by horse power. After passing new place, owned and occupied by a man whose name was not learned, the most extensive and important ranch on the river,

 THE CANOA,

 Now in the possession of Maish & Driscoll, was reached. This ranch has every facility for supporting a very great number of cattle, but the owners at present have only from 1900 to 200O head grazing ln their bottom land. The cattle are in fine condition, fat and sleek The sacaton and other grasses are abundant and water Is found in the river. This is a very valuable proper ", extending tor several miles along the river and back on either side to the hills. The bottom land is very rich, and some day much of it may be profitably used as farming land Low hills on the west of the road, once a good hiding region for Apaches, now protect the bottOm and make it re markubly comfortable for stock MT haish informed the party that he ha starled herd of good cattle for San Carlos the week before and would leave himself in a couple of days to person ally superintend the delivery thereof at that reservation.

 On the Reventon ranch next soUth, Mir Sabino Otero has about 1000 head of good cattle and a large band of horses, including brood mares.

 Having the main road southward and taking the one leading west be- tween Canoa and Reventon, the first place reached was Sopori, the home of Supervisor J lan Elias. Here a field of grain, well grown and heavy, was seen and in the valley, MT. Elias has about 800 head of cattle.

 The Sopori valley extends east and west twelve to fifteen mlles and is full of valuable grasses The soil is very rich and with water, which some day. will be had from artesian wells, can bel brought under cultivation and made toI produce largely. The foot hills onI either side are covered with grass and will afford grazing for many thousands upon thousands Ot cattle. Leaving the valley by short but rather steep ascent, the works of the old Cerro Colorado mines were soon. reached The numerous old buildings, the remnants of a once prosperous and rich company that squandered money in a business concerning which they were ignorant, are now rapidly crum- bling. Several people were found here, as this seems to be a starting point for prospectors of the vicinity, but no work is being prosecuted; though nu- merous new locations have been made. around.

 From the Cerro Colorado the road runs west through a valley filled with grass and flowers, directly towards Babacomori peak, the conspicuous landmark easily discernible from Tue son to Hermosillo, to the

 GUIJA MOUNTAINS. On the great Sea Serpent lode sever al prosDect shafts have been sunk bui