THE ARIZONA CITIZEN

TUCSON, PIMA COUNTY, ARIZONA, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1875 Page 4. PUEBLO VIEJO VALLEY

It's Extent, Capacities and Surroundings Described by Colonel Hodge. PUEBLO VIEJO, ARIZONA, AUGUST 30

Mr. McWilliams, an old and well known citizen of the territory, is temporarily located at old Camp Goodwin, where he has a fine crop of corn, potatoes, etc.  He is farming some twenty acres of land some four miles south of the river in the beautiful little valley known as Camp Goodwin Spring Valley, the water from the spring supplying an abundance for irrigation.  About seven miles up the valley to the east, is the Clanton settlement where the old gentleman, N.H. Clanton and his three sons, Wesley, Phineas and Isaac have each good locations.  This settlement includes some seven or eight white men in all; is on the south side of the Gila like most of the settlements in the valley.  A very good irrigating ditch has been completed by the Clanton's and another one is now contemplated.
THE ARIZONA CITIZEN
TUCSON, PIMA CO.,A.T., SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1875, Page 1, Col. 1. NORTHEASTERN ARIZONA
Extent of Settlements on the Little Colorado--
Number of acres cultivated Yield of Grain--
75.000 sheep--
Wants of the People.
CAMP GOODWIN, November 24, 1875.
     EDITOR CITIZEN:--I have just returned from the Rio Colorado Chiquito country, and while in that section, thought it would be a good idea to "kill two stones with one bird," that is to attend to my own business and fish up a few items for THE CITIZEN. I think it is now generally known outside of Arizona that there is a large,--(for a place so young) and tolerably flourishing settlement in the
Colorado District. But nevertheless, such is really the case, and from the best information I could get, having conversed with the principle ranchmen and stock-raisers on the subject, I find there is the following amount of land under cultivation: In the Milligan settlement, sometimes called the Socorro Crossing, as one of the roads leading from Camp Apache to the Rio Grande crosses the Colorado at this settlement, there are 750 acres under cultivation, and thousands of acres of unoccupied land that are open to settlers, some of which has been surveyed by the United States.  In the next settlement below Milligan's, called the Burritas, are 1,000 acres of cultivated lands.  The lands in and around this settlement are said to be, by competent judges, the best in the valley, and without doubt they are, if one may correctly judge from the amount of small grain, size of vegetables, etc.,grown here.  Six miles further down the river we come to Huntsville.  At this place is a bridge, and it is claimed to be the best crossing on the river; and moreover, it is on the direct road from Camp Apache to Wingate; to Pueblo de Zuni: to Cubero: to Albuquerque and Los Lunas--the last two towns are on the east, and the other on the west side of the Rio Grande.  Passing down the river seven miles by an excellent wagon road, we come to Col. James C. Hunt's ranch.  It will be perhaps proper to state that Col. Hunt was the first one to settle upon the Rio Colorado Chiquito, having located here nearly five years ago; and it is mainly through his perserance and bull dog tenacity, with a determination "to-stick-it-out-at-all-hazards," that has caused to spring up quite a large settlement on the river during the past three years.  Three miles below Hunt's ranch is another settlement named the Conches.  At this place there are twenty legal voters, the majority of whom have families, and cultivate about 800 acres of land.  The Concha Creek is a beautiful little mountain stream, and like the famous Nile, has its source in a pretty little lake, high up in the Black Mesas, that on the north side comprise the foothills of the Mogollon mountains.  It is about fifteen miles long, and after winding that distance through hills and pretty little caoncitos, it empties into the Colorado.  Here, also, is the finest pasturage for sheep and goats, and as fine a range for cattle as anyone could wish to see.  Besides the cultivated lands mentioned above, there are, including that of Cooley, Stinson, Clark, Moore, Walker, Magdalena, Andre, Wallace and others, perhaps 1000 to 1200 acres more.  From these figures it will be seen, that in the Colorado District are cultivated something over 3000 acres of land, and about 3,000,000 pounds of grain were grown and threshed this year--such as barley, wheat, oats and corn.  Undoubtedly this is below the amount of grain raised and number of acres under cultivation.  Of the number of livestock in this District--not including horses, mules and cattle, are 75,000 head of sheep, and parties who know, say the number will be more than trebled by the coming fall.  The following are the names of owners and the number of sheep owned by each individual:  Jesus Baca, 25,000; Armijo, 14,000; F. Chavez, 7,000; Col. Chavez, 6,000; Santiago Baca, 6,000; Henry Connolly, 6,000; Colonel Hunt, 3,000; John Brophy, 8,000--total, 75,000.
     There are 150 legal voters (not quite "400" as yet) in the Colorado District, a majority of whom have wives and children, and by an actual count of Mr. Livermore, Deputy Sheriff of Yavapai County, there was found to be seventy five school children entitled to draw school money.  These children are in great need of public school--the Chief Justice and co-workers to the contrary notwithstanding; and they should have one established in their midst by all means.
     Before closing this letter, I wish to make a few remarks in regard to the other wants of the settlers on the Colorado.  First of all and the most important and needful one, is a mail route through the country, whereby they may have communication with the outside world.  If the Congress would give them a route from Wingate to Huntsville it would be of great benefit to the people. But a through route from Camp Goodwin via Camp Apache and Huntsville to Wingate would be still better.  The establishment of the route as described would be a just help to all the settlers in Northeastern Arizona, and would require two postoffices, one at Camp Apache and the other at Huntsville.  By this means they would be put into postal communication with the Alantic and Pacific States; but as it is now, they are not in communication with any part of the Territory--not even with their own County Seat--Prescott.  Is it any wonder that the people talk of petitioning Congress to have the boundry line between the two Territories changed, that they may be included within the Territory of New Mexico?  At present the only service this people have is per private express, run from Col Hunt's place to Wingate, a distance of ninety-five miles and back, making in all one hundred and ninety miles, and this too at the Colonel's private expense.  However, the Colonel is noted through that section, for his liberality and generous nature to all with whom he has had relations--business or social.
     In "closing down," this letter, I will remark that here is a good field for our Delegate to operate in; and by procuring this service for them, secure their good will and eternal friendship, which friendship may be of use at the next election for Delegate. Petitions will be forwarded to Delegate Stevens, of Arizona, and to Delegate Elkins, of New Mexico, as soon as possible, with the names of all the settlers thereto, praying for a mail route and postoffice.
C.A. FRANKLIN

From Jack Becker's Collection