STAGE, MILITARY, AND MINE ROADS, STATIONS, TOWNS, AND MILITARY
POSTS. WATER, WOOD, GRASS, ETC., EN ROUTE. COMPILED FROM THE
BEST MILITARY AND OTHER AUTHORITIES.
Yuma, A. T., to Mesilla, N. M.--Overland Road and Stations of the S. P.
O. M. S. Line.
_Miles._
Yuma, A. T.[*]
Desconso 14 14
Gila City 8 22
Rattlesnake 7 29
Mission Camp (1) 3 32
Filibuster 12 44
Antelope Peak 6 50
Mohawk (2) 16 66
Teamster’s Camp (3) 20 86
Stanwix[*] 20 96
Burke’s (4) 12 108
Oatman Flat (5) 10 118
Gila Bend (6) 30 148
Maricopa Wells[*] (7) 43 191
Pima Villages (8) 12 203
Sweet Water. 7 209
Sacaton. 6 215
Montezuma. 10 225
Sanford (9) 8 233
Florence[*] (10) 4 237
Desert Wells 36 273
Point of Mountain 9 282
Water Holes 9 291
Tucson[*] (11) 9 300
Cienega (12) 30 330
Tres Alimos (13) 20 350
Steel’s Ranch (14) 40 390
Apache Pass[*] (Camp Bowie) (15) 35 425
Ralston, New Mexico 50 475
Knight’s Ranch, New Mexico 25 500
Silver City, ” (16) 25 525
Fort Bayard, ” 10 535
Rio Membres, ” 40 565
Fort Cummings[*] ” 20 585
Slocum’s, ” 30 615
Mesilla, ” (17) 15 645
[*] Telegraph Offices.
At all stations, wood, water, and grass, or other feed, are to be
found. At most of them, a small store is also kept. Meals and lodgings
can be obtained. (1) At Mission Camp, there is a road south and west,
to the old Papago country, via Cabaza Prieto. (2) From Mohawk is a
road due south to the same region. (3) Five miles east of Teamster
Camp is a route south to the Ajo Copper Mines, and then southwest
to Sonora. (4) At Burke’s is a road south to the same point. (5) At
Painted Rock, north of and near this station, a road to Phœnix comes
in. (6) Near Gila Bend, a road diverges south, through the old Papago
country, to old mines and deserted Indian villages. (7) At Maricopa
Wells, roads north and south diverge direct to Tucson, the Papagonia,
to Phœnix, Camps McDowell, Verde, and Apache. (8) At Pima Villages,
a road diverges north, passing through the Maricopa village (Indians,
800). There are 5,000 Pima Indians, living in ten large and several
small villages, between this station and Montezuma. There is also a
road directly south from Pima. (9) Road south to Desert Wells. (10)
From Florence, regular stages leave for Silver City, Pioneer District;
Globe City, Globe District; San Carlos, and Camp Apache; also, to
Hayden, East Phœnix, Phœnix, Wickenburg, and Prescott. There is a
direct road to old Camp Grant, east, and thence to the San Pablo Valley
and Arivipa settlements. (11) At Tucson, the highway to Mexico, via the
valley of the Santa Cruz, diverges west. Stages leave for Guaymas. (12)
Near Cienega, a road diverges to Davidson’s, the Santa Rita placers,
old Camps Crittenden and Wallen, the Pategonias, and the old Presidio
San Pedro (U. S. Camp Huachuca). (13) At Tres Alimos, there is a road
north and up the San Pedro Valley to San Carlos, the Globe District,
and Camp Apache. (14) There are roads north and south at this point
to Camp Grant and the old Chiricahua Reservation, now abandoned, and
thence, by trails, etc., to Sulphur Springs Valley, Dragoon Mountains,
etc. (15) There is a road north direct to Safford, on the Gila. (16)
Stages here for the most southerly station, via Santa Fé, on the
Denver & Rio Grande N. G. R. R.; thence east, via Colorado and Kansas
railroads. (17) At Mesilla, the overland stages connect with branch to
El Paso, Fort Worth, etc., Texas.
Distances Between Stations, commencing at Dos Palmas, on S. P. R. R.,
and thence over Lines of Cal. and Arizona Stage Co.
_Miles._
Dos Palmas west to Canyon Springs 15
Canyon Sp’gs ” Chuckawalla 36 51
Chuckawalla ” Mule Springs 18 69
Mule Springs ” Willows 29 98
Willows ” Ehrenberg (1) 11 109
Ehrenberg ” Tyson’s Wells (2) 22 131
Tyson’s Wells ” Desert Well (3) 28 159
Desert Well ” Mungia Well 17 176
Mungia Well ” Cullings Well (4) 15 191
Cullings Well ” Point Mountain 25 216
Point Mountain ” Wickenburg (5) 20 236
Wickenburg north to Partridge City 17 253
Partridge City ” Antelope Valley 10 26
Antelope Val’y ” Dixon 17 280
Dixon ” Prescott (6) 17 297
Wickenburg south to Smith’s Mills (7) 15
Smith’s Mills ” Agua Fria 28 43
Agua Fria ” Phœnix (8) 22 65
Phœnix ” Hayden Ferry 9 74
Hayden Ferry ” House’s Well 20 94
House’s Well ” Florence 20 114
Florence ” Tucson (overland stage) 63 277
(1) Ehrenberg is a steamboat landing of importance. Roads north to La
Paz, the Colorado Reservation Camp and Agency, and south to Eureka and
Castle Dome district. (2) A road branches here southward to Castle
Dome landing, and the mines in that district. (3) At this station mine
roads diverge to the Harcuvar District and mines; an extensive stock
range is found within five miles. (4) At Cullings, the road forks,
the right-hand branch going to Wickenburg, and the other striking
more northerly, via Date Creek, to Prescott. (5) At this point roads
diverge south to Phœnix and Florence, to the Vulture Mine, to Agua
Fria and Cave Creek mines, east and north to Prescott, and northeast
to adjacent mining districts. (6) At Prescott, roads diverge to Camp
Verde and valley, with its growing settlements, to Alexandria, and
other mining towns and camps; north to the Black Hills and Forest, and
to the San Francisco Mountain; northwest to Mineral Park and vicinity,
and almost due west to Aubry and Hardyville landings. Also east, via
Camp Verde, across the Plateau to Fort Wingate, New Mexico, and thence
to the present southern terminus of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad.
(7) At Smith’s Mill, south of Wickenburg, a road east diverges to Camp
McDowell. (8) At Phœnix, roads diverge southward, one crossing to and
following the Hassayampa Creek to the Gila, others eastward, up the
Salt River valley, to Marysville and Camp McDowell, while other roads
strike south, direct to Maricopa Wells, the mail stage line diverging
in a southeast direction to Florence.
Military Routes.
Numbers 1-9 include all the Routes north of the Gila River; Numbers
14-25 include all the routes south of the Gila River in Arizona, and
the Routes from San Diego to Fort Yuma; Numbers 26-31 include the
Routes from Arizona into New Mexico and Sonora, from Fort Whipple, A.
T., to Fort Wingate, New Mexico, and the Routes from Camp Pinal and
Camp Apache.
☞ When there is more than one route, the distance on the
usual route is marked with an Asterisk (*). There is a difference of
ten per cent. less, as a rule, on the roads and routes surveyed by
the military authorities, as compared with those given by the stage
companies and mail contractors.
_No._ _Route._ _Distance._
1 Camp Mojave to Willow Grove 79.78
2 Camp Willow Grove to Fort Whipple (Prescott) 84.88
3 Fort Whipple to Camp Verde 38.59
4 Fort Whipple to Date Creek 59.65
5 Ehrenberg to Camp Colorado (Indian Reservation) 45.50
6 Ehrenberg to Date Creek {*130.32
{ 137.17
7 Ehrenberg to Wickenburg, A. T. 131.32
8 Camp Colorado to Date Creek {*175.82
{ 84.00
9 Date Creek to Camp McDowell {*109.83
{ 126.18
10 Date Creek to Maricopa Wells 101.05
11 Wickenburg to Fort Whipple, (Prescott) via trail 55.00
12 Wickenburg to Camp McDowell, via trail 65.00
13 Camp McDowell to Fort Whipple (Prescott) 109.85
14 Camp McDowell to Camp Reno 33.00
15 Camp Reno to Camp Verde 90.00
16 Camp McDowell to Maricopa Wells 44.81
17 Camp McDowell to Camp Grant 106.17
18 San Diego to Fort Yuma, Cal. {*191.61
{ 229.05
19 Fort Yuma, Cal., to Maricopa Wells (Yuma) 176.73
20 Maricopa Wells to Camp Grant 90.78
21 Camp Grant to Camp Goodwin 153.46
22 Camp Grant to Camp Bowie 135.34
23 Maricopa Wells to Tucson (Camp Lowell) 98.01
24 Camp Grant to Tucson (Camp Lowell) 52.08
25 Tucson (Camp Lowell) to Camp Goodwin 149.85
26 Tucson (Camp Lowell) to Camp Bowie 105.36
27 Tucson (Camp Lowell) to Camp Crittenden (east of Santa Rita) {*50.78
{ 87.36
28 Camp Crittenden to Camp Bowie 97.55
29 Camp Bowie to Camp Goodwin {*88.00
{ 99.00
30 Camp Bowie, A. T., to Fort Cummings 114.00
31 Tucson (Camp Lowell) A. T., to Guaymas, Mexico 350.78
32 Camp Wallen, (abandoned) A. T., to Guaymas, Mexico 317.50
33 Tucson, (Camp Lowell) A. T., to La Libertad, Mexico {*225.23
{ 226.97
34 Tucson, (Camp Lowell) A. T., to Lobos, Mexico 213.64
35 Camp Pinal to Tucson (Camp Lowell) 114.63
36 Camp Pinal to Fort Whipple 243.97
37 Camp Pinal to Camp Grant 87.65
38 Camp Apache to Tucson (Camp Lowell) 221.85
39 Camp Apache to Maricopa Wells 316.24
40 Camp Apache to Fort Whipple 268.00
41 Fort Whipple (Prescott) to Fort Wingate, N. M. 285.76
From Yuma.
=========================================================================
| |
_To_ |Miles.| _Route_
----------------------+------+-------------------------------------------
Camp Pinal, disused | 260 |Via Florence, on the Overland Road.
Camp Apache | 497 |Via both Tucson and via Camp
Camp Bowie | 380 | Grant, 494 miles.
Camp Colorado, disused| 195 |Via Ehrenberg and then by river road, 45
| | miles.
Camp Colorado, ” | 215 |Via river steamer.
Camp Crittenden, ” | 326 |Via Maricopa Wells, Tucson and Davidson’s
| | Springs.
Date Creek, ” | 278 |Via Ehrenberg or via Camp
Camp Goodwin, ” | 425 | Colorado.
Camp Grant | 268 |Via Maricopa Wells and Florence or Tucson.
Tucson | 275 |Via direct from Maricopa, by stage road 300
| | miles.
Camp McDowell | 222 |Via overland road to Maricopa Wells.
Camp Mojave | 503 |By river steamer.
Camp Reno, disused | 255 |Via Camp Verde.
Camp Verde | 377 |Via overland road to Maricopa Wells, and
| | thence via Phœnix and Camp McDowell.
Prescott | 338 |Via Oatman Flat and Wickenberg.
Ehrenberg | 140 |By river steamer.
Maricopa Wells | 177 |By regular stage route, 191 miles.
La Paz | 130 |By river steamer.
Guaymas, Mexico | 620 |Via Tucson.
La Libertad, Mexico | 500 |Via Tucson.
Lobos, Mexico | 489 |
Tubac | 321 |Via Maricopa Weils direct to Tucson,
Castle Dome Mills | 12 | regular stage route 346 ms.
” Mines | 22 |
” Landing | 22 |By river steamer.
Sonora Line | 50 | ” ”
Eureka | | ” ”
Landing | | ” ”
Aubry | | ” ”
Hardyville | | ” ”
Callville | | ” ”
----------------------+------+------------------------------------------
From Prescott.
=========================================================================
_To_ |_Miles._| _To_ |_Miles._
-----------------------+--------+-------------------------------+------
Camp Pinal, disused | 244 | Camp Toll Gate, disused | 39
Camp Apache | 481 | Camp Verde | 39
Camp Bowie | 364 | Fort Cummings, N. M. | 478
Camp Colorado, disused | 236 | Fort Yuma, Cal. (Yuma, A. T.) | 338
Camp Crittenden, ” | 310 | Ehrenberg, A. T. | 190
Camp Date Creek, ” | 60 | Maricopa Wells | 161
Camp Goodwin, ” | 409 | Guaymas, Mexico | 610
Camp Grant, A. T. | 252 | La Libertad, Mexico | 484
Camp Lowell, (Tucson) | 259 | Lobos, Mexico | 473
Camp McDowell | 170 | San Diego, Cal. | 530
Camp Mojave | 165 | Tubac | 305
Camp Reno, disused | 203 | Fort Wingate, N. M. | 286
-----------------------+--------+-------------------------------+------
Camp Mojave to Willow Grove, A. T.
=========================================================================
| | |
_To_ | _Miles._ | _Miles._ | _Description._
| | |
------------------------+----------+----------+--------------------------
Hardyville | 6 | 6 |Village; sandy road.
Alexander’s Camp | 2 | 8 |Water and wood; no grass.
First Water, Union Pass | 11 | 20 |Water; grass scarce; no
| | | wood; no camping ground.
Union Pass (Spring) | 1 | 21 |Water; no wood or grass;
| | | road up hill; no camping
| | | ground.
Coyote Spring | 16 | 38 |Water; grass scarce; wood.
Beale’s Spring | 1 | 39 |Another spring ½ mile
| | | beyond; very good water.
Hualpais Spring | 14 | 54 |Half a mile to right of
| | | road; water bad; good
| | | grass.
Tanks | 12 | 67 |Filled with sand; no water
| | | or wood.
Cottonwood | 7 | 75 |Water, grass and wood.
Willow Grove | 4 | 81 |With the fractions added.
------------------------+----------+----------+--------------------------
1½ miles beyond Beale’s Spring, where road crosses Sandy Wash, there is
permanent and good water; ¼ mile to right of road, in the Wash, grass
abundant; good camping ground. Wood near by, ¾ mile to left of road. Up
the Wash are large bodies of good water.
3 miles before reaching Hualpais Spring, just after crossing Big Wash,
good permanent water; grass and wood 1½ miles to right of road; good
road nearly to the water. In coming from Willow Grove to Camp Mojave,
in order to reach this camping ground turn to left 2 miles after
leaving Hualpais Spring. Important camping ground, used by trains.
Willow Grove to Prescott, A. T.
==========================================================================
| | |
_To_ | _Miles._ | _Miles._ | _Description._
| | |
----------------------+----------+----------+----------------------------
Fort Rock | 9 | 9 |Ranch. Water, grass and
| | | wood. Road generally good.
Camp near Muddy Cañon | 11 | 20 |Water in cañon 300 yards to
| | | right of road; wood
| | | abundant; road good.
Anvil Rock | 4 | 24 |Water and grass.
Oaks and Willows | 9 | 33 |Water, grass and wood. Road
| | | generally good.
Old Toll Gate | 9 | 43 |Abandoned. Road hilly,
| | | otherwise good.
Roblett’s (Ranch) | 2 | 45 |Water, grass and wood.
Toll Gate (Ranch) } | | |Water and wood abundant. Road
Camp Hualpai } | 1 | 46 | as above.
Williamson’s Valley | 15 | 62 |Water and grass; no wood. Road
| | | excellent.
Lee’s Ranch | 13 | 75 |Water, grass and wood. Road
| | | excellent.
Prescott | 11 | 86 |Road excellent.
----------------------+----------+--- ------+--------------------------
Three miles beyond Camp near Muddy Cañon is an old government camping
ground, with water all the year; wood and grass abundant. New road
forks to the left, one mile beyond Camp. Two miles further is the Camp
opposite the above mentioned water, one-fourth mile to right of road.
Present camping ground well marked.
This new road intersects old road one mile before reaching Anvil
Rock; is smooth, and avoids the rocky hills on the old road, now very
difficult for loaded teams. Both roads are boggy in winter.
Prescott (Fort Whipple) to Camp Verde, A. T. Route 1.
=========================================================================
| | |
_To_ |_Miles._|_Miles._| _Description._
| | |
------------------+--------+----------+----------------------------------
[1]Lurty’s Ranch | 11 | 11 |Water and grass; wood scarce. Good
| | | road.
Ash Creek | 9 | 21 |Water permanent; grazing tolerably
| | | fair; wood scarce.
Cienega | 7 | 28 |Water permanent; grazing excellent;
| | | wood close by spring.
Summit Grief Hill | 4 | 32 |Water to right of road one mile
| | | before reaching Summit except in
| | | dry season; grazing good; wood
| | | plenty.
Camp Verde | 5 | 38 |Road good; first mile steep descent.
------------------+---==---+--------+------------------------------------
[1] The road forking to the right at this place leads to Agua Fria
Ranch, distance 4 miles; from Agua Fria Ranch to Ash Creek by a direct
road the distance is 7.80 miles.
The direct road from Lurty’s cannot be used for supply trains, which
all go by Bower’s Ranch, making the distance from Fort Whipple to Camp
Verde 40.67 miles.
Prescott, (Fort Whipple) to Camp Verde, A. T. Route 2.
=======================================================================
| | |
_To_ |_Miles._|_Miles._| _Description._
| | |
-------------------------+--------+--------+---------------------------
Lurty’s Ranch | 14 | 14 |Via “Point of Rocks.” Water
| | | and grass; wood scarce;
| | | road good.
New Road to Camp McDowell| 6 | 20 |
Ash Creek | 2 | 23 |Water permanent; grazing
| | | fair; wood scarce.
Government Saw Mill | 6 | 30 |
Camp Verde | 16 | 46 |Good road.
-------------------------+--------+--------+----------------------------
Captain Foster, Assistant Quartermaster, reported this road in 1874 as
the only practicable one for loaded wagons, between Fort Whipple and
Camp Verde.
Prescott to Date Creek, A. T.
=========================================================================
| | |
_To_ | _Miles._ | _Miles._ | _Description._
| | |
----------------+----------+----------+----------------------------------
Lee’s Ranch | 11 | 11 |Water, grass and wood. Right-hand
| | | road to Camp Mojave.
Tonto Spring | 9 | 20.60 |Water to right of road ¼ mile
| | | distant. Good camping ground.
Dickson’s Ranch | 10 | 30.60 |Water, grass and wood. Road good.
Ehle’s Ranch | 3 | 34.10 |Water, grass and grain. Road good.
| | | Mail station; good stabling.
Uncle Rob’s | 5 | 39.79 |Water, grass and grain.
Jones’ Camp | 3 | 42.79 |Water, part of year; grass good.
| | | Road bad and dangerous.
Willow Spring | 4 | 47.71 |Water ¼ mile to left of road;
| | | grass good; wood scarce.
Soldiers’ Holes | 6 | 53.71 |Water in rainy season.
Date Creek | 5 | 60.00 |Road mostly good.
----------------|----------|----------|----------------------------------
By a rough trail from Fort Whipple over Granite Mountains to Ehle’s
Ranch (Skull Valley) the distance is estimated at eighteen miles. There
is another trail leading over this range entering Skull Valley at its
upper end, (Dickson’s Ranch) three and one-half miles from Ehle’s.
This trail is three or four miles longer than the other, but is not so
rough. In winter the short trail (so-called) is often obstructed by
snow. These trails are used by the “Mail Carrier.”
Camp Apache to Prescott, A. T.
=========================================================================
| | |
_To_ |_Miles._|_Miles._| _Description._
| | |
----------------------------+--------+--------+------------------------
Tank | 18 | 18 |
Spring | 5 | 23 |
Forks of Road | 8 | 31 |Right fork to Zuni, N. M.
Jo. N.’s Camp | 18 | 49 |
Silver Spring | 4 | 53 |
Stoneman’s Camp | 8 | 61 |
Shevelon’s fork of Colorado | 7 | 68 |After crossing, take
| | | right fork of road.
Crossing of Little Colorado | 28 | 96 |
Sunset Crossing | 33 | 129 |
Tank | 18 | 147 |
Jo. N.’s Camp | 20 | 167 |
Sante Spring | 8 | 175 |
Stoneman’s Lake | 13 | 188 |
Beaver Creek | 18 | 206 |
Camp Verde | 18 | 224 |
Prescott | 44 | 268 |
----------------------------+--------+--------+------------------------
Dos Palmas (S. P. R. R.) to Ehrenberg, A. T.
=========================================================================
| | |
_To_ |_Miles._|_Miles._| _Description._
| | |
----------------------------+--------+--------+------------------------
[1]Dos Palmas (S. P. R. R.) | | |
Cañon Springs | 11 | 190 |Water and wood; little
| | | grass. Good road.
Chuc-a-walla (Station) | 34 | 224 |Water and wood. Good road.
Laguna | 30 | 254 |Water and wood; little
| | | grass; heavy sand.
Willow Springs | 7 | 261 |Water, grass and wood.
| | | Good road.
Bradshaw’s Ferry (Ranch) | 12 | 273 |Water and wood. Good road.
[2]Ehrenberg | 2 | 276 |Sandy road.
----------------------------+--------+--------+------------------------
[1] California and Arizona stages to Prescott leave this station.
[2] From Ehrenberg there is a road up the Colorado River to Camp
Colorado, 45.50 miles.
Irrigated lands in Southern Arizona will readily produce two crops
of grain each year, and several of alfalfa. Some lands, belonging
to the Pima Indians, as well as fields about Tucson and the ranches
of the Santa Cruz and San Pedro Valleys, are known to have been in
continuous cultivation for at least from two to three hundred years.
Water fertilizes and restores the soil. The valley of the Gila, under
analysis, shows more phosphorates and other fertilizers than that of
the Nile.
A sand storm on the mesas of Southern Arizona is not a pleasant affair
to encounter. If caught in one on horse-back or afoot, imitate the
animals, put your face close to the ground and turn your back to the
blast.
Ehrenberg to Camp McDowell, A. T., via Date Creek.
=======================================================================
| | |
_To_ |_Miles._|_Miles._| _Description._
| | |
----------------------+--------+--------+------------------------------
Tyson’s (Los Pasos) | 25 | 25 |Good water; hay and grain.
Desert Station | 25 | 51 |Good water; hay and grain.
Flint’s | 19 | 70 |Good water and grass.
McMullen’s | 4 | 74 |Old road branches here} Road
| | | by Martinez’s Cañon.} west of
Cullen’s | 10 | 85 |Good water and grass. } Date Creek
Date Creek Crossing | 36 | 121 |Good water and grass. } Mountain.
Date Creek | 9 | 130 |
Martinez’s Cañon | 7 | 7 |Water, grass and wood; road
| | | boggy in wet season.
| | | Right fork to Ehrenberg.
Vulture Mill | 18 | 26 |Last six miles of road
| | | sandy.
[1]Wickenburg | 1 | 27 |Settlement.
[2]Camp on Hassyampa | 5 | 33 |Water (except in very dry
| | | season), grass and wood.
Road leaves Hassyampa | 2 | 35 |Quicksands in Hassyampa
| | | sometimes impassable.
| | | (See Note.)
Mud Tanks | 12 | 48 |Water in rainy season.
Point of Mountain | 7 | 55 |Permanent water in White
| | | Tanks, 1½ miles to
| | | right of road.
[3]Forks of Road | | 56 |Right fork to Salinas Lower
| | | Crossing.
Crossing of | | |
Agua Frio Ranch | 9 | 65 |
Phœnix | | |
(Swelling’s R’ch) | 19 | 85 |Settlement.
Acequia | 1 | 86 |
Forks of Road | 12 | 98 |Right fork to Maricopa
| | | Wells and Camp Grant.
Camp McDowell | 11 | 110 |
----------------------+--------+--------+------------------------------
[1] The road runs along the bed of the stream for a part of the way;
when the river is high quicksands are troublesome, and the road is
sometimes impassable; whenever this is the case, the route is via the
Vulture Mine, by which the distance is increased 18 miles.
From Wickenburg to Prescott, via Walnut Grove, the distance, by a very
rough trail, is estimated at 55 miles. Ranch at Walnut Grove, half way.
From Wickenburg to Camp McDowell direct, by trail, the distance is
estimated at 65 miles.
[2] There is a road from this point down the Hassyampa to Burke’s
Station on the road between Fort Yuma and Maricopa Wells, with the
following Camps:--Gila Bend, 40 miles; Cottonwoods, 25 miles; Camp
opposite Oatman’s Flat, 10 miles; Agua Caliente, 16 miles; Burke’s
Station (fording Gila River), 5 miles--total, 96 miles. The road is
quite good, (though seldom traveled) and water, grass and wood are to
be found at all the above Camps.
From Date Creek to Maricopa Wells, the road is taken to Salinas Lower
Crossing (78 miles), thence by the Gila Lower Crossing (17 miles) to
Maricopa Wells (6 miles)--total, 102 miles. In winter, when the Salinas
and Gila are too high to ford, by going about 3 miles further up the
Gila to Morgan’s, advantage can be taken of a Ferry without increasing
the distance to Maricopa Wells.
From Camp McDowell to Prescott, by a proposed wagon road that is
opened from Prescott to Agua Frio, the distances are estimated as
follows:--Camp McDowell to Agua Frio, 47½ miles; Dickson’s Ranch, by
newly opened road, 23 miles; Agua Frio Ranch, by old road, 18 miles;
Prescott, 21 miles--total distance, 110 miles.
The road from Camp McDowell to Camp Reno has the following camping
grounds:--Camp Miller, 16 miles; Camp Carroll, 4½ miles; Camp
O’Connell, 4 miles; Camp Reno, 8½ miles--distance, 33 miles.
From Camp Reno to Camp Verde, by a newly opened road, it is to Camp in
Green Valley, 30 miles; thence to Camp Verde, by trail, 60 miles--total
distance, 90 miles.
[3] In rainy seasons, when the route by Agua Frio is impassable, it
is necessary to take the right fork to Salinas Lower Crossing, (22
miles) thence up the north bank of the Salinas to Phœnix (about 23
miles)--total, 45 miles,--increasing the distance from Camp Date Creek
to Camp McDowell about 16 miles.
Camp McDowell to Maricopa Wells, A. T.
=========================================================================
| | |
_To_ | _Miles._ | _Miles._ | _Description._
| | |
-------------------+----------+----------+-------------------------------
Forks of Road | 11 | 11 |Right fork to Phœnix.
Ferry Station | 2 | 13 |Left fork to Camp Grant. Water,
| | | grass and wood. Crossing of
| | | Salinas River.
Desert Station | 11 | 24 |Well of water. Hay and grain at
| | | Station.
Morgan’s Ferry | 17 | 41 |Crossing of Gila River.
Maricopa Wells | 3 | 45 |Stores. No grass or wood.
-------------------+----------+----------+-------------------------------
During the winter the Gila is usually and the Salinas occasionally,
unfordable.
Camp McDowell to Camp Grant, A. T.
=========================================================================
| | |
_To_ | _Miles._ | _Miles._ | _Description._
| | |
--------------------------+----------+----------+-----------------------
Forks of Road | 11 | 11 |Road excellent. Right
| | | fork to Phœnix.
Ferry Station | 2 | 13 |Small station; bad ford
| | | at high water.
Florence (crossing Gila) | 38 | 52 |Good fording; Ranch ½ mile
| | | this side.
Ruggles and Ewing | 3 | 56 |Last Ranch before leaving
| | | river; good stopping
| | | place.
Junction with Sacaton R’d | 4 | 60 |Desert mesa.
Round Valley | 12 | 73 |No water, wood or grass.
Camp near Round Valley | 2 | 75 |Water ½ mile to left of
| | | road by trail.
Cottonwoods | 13 | 89 |Water ½ mile to right of
| | | road by trail; grass;
| | | wood scarce.
Junction with Tucson R’d | 13 | 103 |
Camp Grant | 3 | 106 |Crossing Rio San Pedro.
--------------------------+----------+----------+------------------------
At Prescott, clerks receive from $50 to $125 per month, with board
often thrown in; carpenters and painters, from $4 to $6 per day;
masons, from $6 to $8, and in some cases, when a man is possessed of
superior skill, as high as $10 per day; ranch hands, herders, cow-boys,
from $25 to $50 per month, and board; common laborers, from $2 to $3
per day; domestic servants, men and women, from $25 to $40 per month;
but as yet there is no great demand.
Maricopa Wells to Camp Grant, A. T.
=======================================================================
| | |
_To_ |_Miles._|_Miles._| _Description._
| | |
-----------------------------+--------+--------+-----------------------
Pima Villages | 10 | 10 |Store and mill.
Sweet Water | 6 | 16 |Store.
Sacaton | 6 | 22 |Store; water; grass
| | | scarce; right fork of
| | | road direct to Tucson.
Reservation, eastern boundary| 7 | 29 |
Walker’s Ranch | 6 | 35 |Indian village and store.
White’s Ranch | 4 | 39 |Gila; wood, hay, grain;
| | | little grass.
Junction with Camp McDowell | | |
Road | 7 | 46 |
Camp Grant | 46 | 92 |Crossing San Pedro.
-----------------------------+--------+--------+-----------------------
The road from Maricopa Wells to Pima Villages is cut up with small
gullies, from 1 to 4 feet deep, with steep sides, which, in rainy
seasons, are muddy and troublesome.
The left fork leads up the Gila to Adamsville, 2½ miles distant, where
are two stores, a mill, etc., and thence to Ruggles and Ewing’s Ranch,
(4 miles) where is a store; here the road intersects the road between
Camps McDowell and Grant.
Camp Grant to Camp Goodwin.--In very rainy seasons it is necessary to
go via Tucson, distance 202 miles. The shorter and better route, except
in winter, is up the San Pedro River, 57 miles, to within 8 miles of
Tres Alamos, where the left fork leads to Croton Springs, distance 25
miles, and thence to Camp Goodwin, 71 miles--total distance, 153 miles.
On this road there are plenty of water, grass and wood, all along the
San Pedro River.
Camp Grant to Camp Bowie.--To Croton Spring, distance 82 miles; thence
to intersection with road between Tucson and Camp Bowie, distance 16
miles, and thence to Camp Bowie, 37 miles--total distance, 135 miles.
Maricopa Wells.
========================================================================
| | _Total_
_To_ | _Miles._ | _Miles._
----------------------------------------------------+----------+--------
Yuma | | 191
Tucson, southeast, (overland stage road) | | 109
Sacaton (en route direct to Tucson) | | 22
Blue Water ” ” | 20 | 43
Picacho | 13 | 57
Point of Mountains | 24 | 81
Tucson | 17 | 98
Camp Grant | | 90
----------------------------------------------------|----------|------
This is a stage station, with stores, etc., of importance. It is the
point of divergence for branch stages to Phœnix, Camp McDowell, and
Camp Verde.
Fuller, in his Treatise on Silver Mines, says: “Wherever, in any part
of the world, silver mines have been worked they are worked now, unless
closed for war, invasion of Indians, etc. We know of no silver mines
in the world that have given out.” In support of this position, he
instances the mines of Mexico, the old Spanish mines, (opened before
Humboldt’s time) the South American mines, still as productive as they
were three centuries ago, mines in Hungary worked before the Christian
era, the silver mines of Freiburg, opened in the 11th century, etc.,
nearly all now worked with unabated productiveness.
Maricopa Wells to Tucson, A. T.
(Going south direct.)
=========================================================================
| | |
_To_ |_Miles._ |_Miles._ | _Description._
| | |
------------------+---------+---------+-------------------------------
Sacaton | 22 | 22 |Left fork of road to Camp Grant.
Blue Water | 20 | 43 |Well; grass and wood plenty;
| | | station; hay and grain.
Picacho | 13 | 57 |Grass and wood plenty; no water.
Mud Tanks | 15 | 72 |Water in wet weather, wood scarce.
Point of Mountain | 8 | 81 |Wells; grass plenty, wood scarce;
Nine Mile Water | 8 | 89 | station, hay and grain.
Tucson | 8 | 98 |Capital of Territory. Road good
| | | after passing Pima Villages.
------------------+---------+---------+---------------------------------
Camp Grant to Tucson, A. T.
=======================================================================
| | |
_To_ |_Miles._|_Miles._| _Description._
| | |
----------------------+--------+--------+------------------------------
Camp Grant | | |Crossing of San Pedro
Forks of Road | 2 | 2 |Wood scarce; grass Right fork
| | | of road to Maricopa Wells.
Cañon del Oro | 21 | 24 |Water, grass, and wood plenty.
Water | 5 | 30 |Water scarce; grass and wood
| | | plenty.
Dry Camp | 8 | 38 |Water in wet weather; grass and
| | | wood plenty.
Roieta | 8 | 47 |Water in wet weather; grass and
Tucson (Camp Lowell) | 4 | 52 |wood plenty.
----------------------+--------+--------+------------------------------
The Rio San Pedro is sometimes impassable in winter on account of high
water. The first nine miles of the road is in a cañon, level, and very
sandy; the rest of the road to Cañon del Oro is hilly, ascending till
near the cañon, when there is a long, steep descent. Three miles beyond
Cañon del Oro the road enters the bed of a stream, usually dry; and
continues in it to within a half mile of Dry Camp. At the foot of the
mountains, opposite Dry Camp, say one and a half miles distant, are the
ruins of an old Pueblo, where there is water all the year. The Roieta
in winter is a running stream.