Year: 1875

GREATER CREEK, SANTA RITA PLACERS,

 PIMA COUNTY, ARIZONA, Aug. 3, 1875.

 EDITOR CITIZEN In your last issue you remind the people that they are dilatory in sending you the news. That's right, if the people forget their duty, wake them up. But to tell you the truth, ever since the discovery of gold pIacers in this locality, everybody appears to have been too busy hunting the precious metal, to spend time writ ing. THE CITIZEN must be remember ed though, and as the other boys are too busy to write you the news, you must be satisfied with what rough correspondent can tell you.

 The excitement caused by the dis covery of gold in this vicinity, does not abate in the least, but is rather on the increase, and parties are daily ar irving here from all quarters. Quite a large majority of those who come are satisfied with the prospect and stay with us, and our population has in creased in the last three months from some half dozen to three or four hun dred souls. It is always the case at new discoveries like this, that some re- turn disappointed. This has not been an exception, but all who have return ed, admit we have rich mines but say that water is scarce. This, by the way, is our only drawback, for if we had plenty of water, we would have as rich a little placer district as almost any that California ever could boast. But notwithstanding the scarcity of water, there are quite number of parties do ing well, and I know of number who are packing their dirt on burros one to two miles and rocking it, and making from one to three ounces per diem.

 The extent of country over which gold has been discovered up to this time, is about three miles square-that is in paying quantities. Gold can be found all over the eastern slope of the Santa Ritas, and there is no doubt but what new discoveries will be made that will equal this district in richness. The discovery in this district appears to be confined to the following named creeks and their tributary gulches Greater Creek, Smiths Creek, Sucker Run, Boston Gulch and Mack's Creek. With the exception of Greater and Mack's Greeks, these streams go per fectly dry shortly after the rains abate. On Greater Creek there is water for rocking purposes the year round, and this stream also boasts perhaps the richest mines in the district. A visit to it at present would remind you of early days on the Pacific Coast. On Mack'S Creek there is also permanent water for rocking, but as yet no gold has been found in paying quantities on the main stream. Several of its tribu- tary gulches are being worked though, with success. There is also quite a settlement on this creek of parties who have claims Iii the dry gulches, who pack their dirt here and rock it.

 Of aspiring localities for the town site, there are three or four, but thus far, Greater Creek appears to have the start, and by far the largest number of settlers. Musick'S Camp on Smiths Creek and Harshaw's Camp on Mack's Creek, have each quite settlement; and either one of them may yet be the point.

 As far as order IS concerned, In over twenty years of experience on the iron tier, have never been in a more order ly camp have yet to hear of the first difficulty between Americans in the district. A few animals have been stolen, but the thefts have been attribu- ted to onr friends across the line, and a company of minute men has been or ganized to attend to such cases in the future

 On the first instant very largely at tended meeting was held on Greater Creek, in the Santa Rita mining dis trlct, for the purpose of organizing a for mutual protection. Quite a large company was organized under. the following:

 Whereas, The recent discovery of gold in the surrounding mountains. known as the Santa Ritas, has caused al of several hundred persons to hastily accumulate in this vicinity, or as it is better known, the Smith. district, and

 Whereas, The said district is situat- ei close to the line of the bordering. Mexican State of Sonora, a State which. has furnished four-fifths of the crimin- als that have infested OUT Territory. since its organization, and the govern ment of which has not only refused to. deliver over to OUT authorities fugitives from justice, but has both harbored and protected fugitive criminals and escaped convicts, and

 Whereas, A very large proportion of the recent addition to OUT population. has been drawn immediately from that. State, and

 Whereas, The authorities who are. to execute the civil laws off our Territory, reside SO far distant from OUT district. that criminals com.