Some Place To Go and See Things

Page Forty-two VACATION LAND, 1929 SOME PLACE TO GO AND SEE THINGS

Often one hears the saying “Oh, for some place to go!” That might mean much in some counties but it registers zero in Cochise county for the second wealthiest county in the state has some place to go, and for the most part the roads to GO on.

In the southern part of the county we have the Huachuca range of mountains that start with a short mileage in Mexico and cover several miles on this side of the International boundary line. This range is part of the Coronado Forest and is heavily wooded with many springs scattered over the range. At the present time Ramsey Canyon is the resort canyon of the range. At the head of this canyon is one of the largest “boxes” in the southwest. It is a magnificent sight with running water right through the “box.” Garden Canyon is another beautiful canyon and in the lower extremity of the location of the Arizona State National Guard encampment grounds with a good highway leading into the grounds and canyon.

Another attractive sight is Fort Huachuca, located in the mouth of Post Canyon and a visit to Fort Huachuca is well worth while.

The way to do the Huachucas is to drive to some given point and then ride horse or muleback to Carr and Miller Peaks, Miller being 9,445 feet high. From Miller Peak one of the grandest sights imaginable is a view obtained there. It is said that on a clear day one can see with the aid of a glass, the San Francisco Peaks beyond Flagstaff, but whether that is so one can hardly count the chains of mountains visible in Arizona, New Mexico and Old Mexico from that point.

When the road from Garden Canyon is completed over the range the Huachucas will come into their own for they are one of Arizona's delightful mountain ranges.

Another range also in the Coronado National Forest is the Chiricahua mountains, famous as the location of the Chiricahua National Monument, America's greatest Pinnacle Forest.

But that it is not all. In it is located Cave Creek Canyon, one of the sights of Arizona. In fact, the colorings are so radiant and the erosion so perfect in this Canyon that it has been called the “Little Grand Canyon” of Arizona.

A distinction enjoyed by this range

By A. H. GARDNER

A distinction enjoyed by this range is the fact that two good highways cross the entire range, one running north and south and the other now being completed by the Forest Service which crosses the range east and west.

The third outstanding range of mountains in Cochise county is the historical The Dragoons, rugged and rough, especially in that section known as Cochise's Stronghold. This is reached from Pearce on the north side or from Tombstone on the south side of the mountains. This range has some beautiful timber, as have the other ranges mentioned in this article. The Stronghold was the haven of refuge of the old Indian warrior Cochise, a member of the Apaches and who is buried “somewhere in the mouth of Cochise's Stronghold Canyon.” A good road from Pearce leads into the Stronghold, as does a fair road skirt the country from Tombstone to Dragoon.

A very impressive natural sculptural phenomenon is to be seen from Tombstone, that of a monster “Sheep's Head,” standing out on the face of the range as if carved by the hand of the great artist Borglum. There is plenty of good highway mileage in Cochise county with the Coronado Trail from the Graham County line and the Broadway of America, U. S. 80, from New Mexico State line near Rodeo, N. M., to the Pima county line west of Benson about 11 miles, and the state highway from Dougias to Pearce where it connects with the Coronado Trail.

County roads are fair to good and state roads are good to excellent.

The great mirage lake between Wilcox and Cochise on the Coronado Trail is a wonderful scenic illusion.

The border may be crossed at any time at Douglas and Naco and a bit of old Mexico enjoyed, some of it, if you like of the vintage of “Pre Volstead.” Douglas is a pretty city with wide streets, up-to-date buildings and the new Gadsden Hotel, which is one of the most up-to-date hostelries in the state. It is the home of two smelters, and those who do not know their state geography should visit Douglas and then drive over the paved road to the Warren District which covers Bisbee, Low ell, Warren and Jiggerville.

Bisbee is the town known as the “city different.” It is different, not only from its location but it is the largest town in the United States that has no passenger trains running into its confines and it is also the largest town without free mail delivery. The “pit” is one of the greatest of industrial sights-when a mountain stood in the way of a clear sight of Warren-the residential part of the Warren District from the “Divide” on the road to Tombstone, the Phelps Dodge Corporation just hauled off the big Sacramento Hill and now the vision of the beautiful town of Warren is perfect, but incidentally it must be admitted that the mountain went through the big mill down Osborn way for it was a mountain of low grade copper.

from its location but it is the largest town in the United States that has no passenger trains running into its confines and it is also the largest town without free mail delivery. The “pit” is one of the greatest of industrial sights-when a mountain stood in the way of a clear sight of Warren-the residential part of the Warren District from the “Divide” on the road to Tombstone, the Phelps Dodge Corporation just hauled off the big Sacramento Hill and now the vision of the beautiful town of Warren is perfect, but incidentally it must be admitted that the mountain went through the big mill down Osborn way for it was a mountain of low grade copper.

At Fairbank, where the San Pedro river is crossed on a magnificent bridge, just completed by the State Highway Department, Father Kino several hundred ago found, where the Chinese Gardens are now in operation, the largest Indian Villages of any on his trip through the San Pedro Valley.

Now in conclusion let me call the reader's attention to a sight from the skies. When flying over Tombstone one sees a wagon wheel with the city smack in the center forming the hub and the spokes formed by the many trails, highways and railroad running into the city of Tombstone, now the center of attraction for magazine short story and book writers the town that has furnished Alfred Henry Lewis, Frederick Bechdolt, Walter Noble Burns, William Breckenridge, William McLeod Raine, and countless other writers inspiration for their efforts now so well known to the reading public of the world. And what is there to see in Tombstone? There is plenty, for here follows the list, each having an historical record: Boot Hill Graveyard, Bird Cage Theatre, Schieffelin Monument, Site of Can Can Restaurant, Site of First Sheriff's Office, Site of First Court House, EarpClanton Battlefield, Schieffelin Hall, Million Dollar Stope, Site of Occidental Hotel, Wells-Fargo Stage Office, World's Largest Rose Bush, Episcopal Church, Tombstone Epitaph.

And the foregoing is but part of the story of Cochise county and its vacation lure. See Arizona and Cochise county. Then you will have improved your geography and your historical education and you will have found that YOU HAVE BEEN SOMEWHERE.