| Show A PLEASANT JOURNEY since last writing WO we have made the trip of about one thousand miles from arizona to wyoming in about thirty six hours and now inhale the bracing atmosphere ol 01 the north after basking for months in the sunny climes of the south I 1 must not neglect however to notice some of the places visited since leaving st johns arizona A drive of eighteen miles from the last name city enables the traveler to reach Conc hoor erastus Eraa tue I 1 prefer to give both na names mesas as there then are two distinct towns though in one precinct the first mentioned as its name implies is a mexican cats town bi situated tu u at it the lower end of the contains about fifteen fit een ELI nd is a mormon 5 sett leme e antly situated oi 01 the side 0 o oscne e sloping hills bisho C 1 I kempe took advantage of oui visit and announced an elenid evening g meeting to be addressed by a bisho from salt river and a brother fron salt lake we had an enjoyable time and it was evident that a ghou spirit prevailed among the people C concho and erastus are supplied jtb water for irrigation from springs and by storing it in tin early part in the year have arn am ample supply both towns are in one school district and two schools art an conducted the postoffice post office has ba recently been moved to concho one and a half miles from eraftus show low is a small town about thirty miles from erastus A wealthy stockman owns most of the th property there and has extensive farms and gardens small farms art are located along the creek and tin saints are organized into a wani aarti presided over by bishop hansen the town being on the main road to C camp apache there is con ir ie alm ravel through it pine dale to is situated in the moun bains about 15 miles west of show low ward meetings and schools are held in a good log schoolhouse and the people are improving their dwellings and making good homes the heavy timber in the vicinity is convenient for building and fencing purposes water for culinary purposes is obtained from wells and the farmers depend upon theraina the rains for their crops the grain in the fields proved that good crops can be raised without irrigation taylor has about sixty families in the precinct and would appeal to better advantage if the settlers would build up the town instead of scattering out so much they appear to be doing so of late and have every prospect of making it an imp town A TJ tonian visiting snowflake is at once struck with its resemblance to many settlements in utah Is vales the abe town is in a good location and its uniform streets lined with shade trees give it a homelike appearance the city lots jots are aie laid off in orchards and gardens and considering past drawbacks are in excellent condition both of the above named towns obtain their water supply from silver creek and are able by the construction construct ic n of dams and reservoirs to obtain a good supply this season they are scarce of wat water erthe the dams having been washed out before the reservoirs were filled this is the only drawback and will soon be remedied by the construction of substantial dams the stake tabernacle erected at snowflake is certainly a credit to the saints who are justly proud of it tt it is a substantial sub statial brick structure with neat spire and a seating capacity of eight hundred when finished and nicely painted it will be the best and most commodious meetinghouse meeting house bouse owned by the latter day saints in arizona many older towns in utah cannot boast of such substantial residences as may be seen in snowflake new two story houses with bay bindu 1 I ada are now in course of or echi ile snowflake stake abade acted by brother levi sav arts satisfactory progress and considerable interest is taken in it such auch institutions should be encouraged and sustained in every stake of zion and I 1 was pleased to notice an increased desire for this class of schools in company with president jesse jeese N smith I 1 attended a meeting in the tabernacle and was greatly surprised to see so large a congre gation present in conversation with bishop hunt I 1 learned that a good feeling prevailed iu in the ward and that the various organizations are doing an excellent work woodruff the next town visited is located on the little colorado river about thirty families reside there and it is is a very promising settlement considerable fencing has been done during the past spring and all hands bands are now new at work on the dam which was washed out some time ago the new dam is being built on a good rock foundation and the side abutments but ments will also be bedded in rock so 80 that it will prove a substantial and permanent structure hoi holbrook brook is a railroad town on the atlantic and pacific railroad and here we bade good bye to the genial bishop whose company we have enjoyed nearly two months and change our mode of travel the arizona operative cooperative co mercantile institution at holbrook Hol brouk has a good stand near the depot and is in a flourishing condition under the of brother J fish this institution does a good business ness with the branch houses in different parts of the county st joseph is reached on the A P railway about twelve miles west of holbrook and contains about fifteen families presided over by bishop J bushman whose fine fide orchards and gardens ate are an evidence of what may be accomplished in this locality A good school is held here during the winter months and good crops are raised by the farmers as the soil is very productive the people have proved the great value of summer fal lowing their land the water supply is obtained from the little colorado river and the green fields of grain and alfalfa extending along the railroad are a pleasant relief to the otherwise dreary landsea landscape pe and another evidence of the industry and perseverance of the saints we are now leaving the territory for a season and in doing so will say that we have experienced agreeable disappointments in our travels in some parts of utah the fair territory of arizona has been greatly misrepresented perhaps not intentionally tio nally but a great prejudice exists and many exaggerated stories are told regarding it every body that goes to A i dies there 11 was the consoling remark of friends when the writer dignified his intention of vl vi eiting elting the territory well there is now dow an exception to this rule here we are in wyoming healthy and strong and with an I 1 increased aver dupois according to fairbanks after several months travel I 1 u n nearly every county of arizona it was remarked several times on our trip that arizona has got a black eye through the disheartening reports of some who have returned to utah di and despou despondent dent rapid pro progress grebs has been made of late years difficulties have been overcome less disease pre prevails valls and the people generally are heathy healthy prosperous and salt river biver valley surp surpasses surphes mes southern california in productiveness and fine healthy climate gila valley offers inducements to allwoo all who dread the extreme hearit heat in more favored localities while those who prefer a still milder clime will find apache county unequalled unequal led PHOENIX PHENIX CHEYENNE wyoming june 3rd ard 1890 |
