*I’HOEN'IX. Capital of Arizona, a winter health resort, commercial center of the noted Salt River irrigation district. Phoenix is growing fast. Americans are there from every state and are building a fine American city. There are -110 mi. of paved roads and streets in the valley. The fields grow all kinds of produce. The drives are a refreshing experience. Roosevelt Dam is 90 mi. east.
Hotels.—ADAMS leads. LUIIRS and SAVOY, moderate priced and good. Two cabin camps and one auto camp,* east side; one cabin camp west 1-1 mi., good. Inf.—Chamber of Commerce and the Automobile Club of Arizona.
THE GILA TRAIL
The general course of the Gila River is now followed to Yunm, where the Colorado and the Gila join and the Colorado was crossed to California. The bleak sands and their drab surroundings are a monotonous Journey, but they arc soils that only await Irrigation to transform this desert as others have been. Down the GHa the barefoot padres plodded carrying their story to the Indians. Many missions were established; -18,000 Indians were reported converted. The Santa Cruz Valley missions below Tucson were their seat of effort; from and thru that section the conqulstadores marched to conquer and settle California and the padres to plant the missions along the Pacific Coast.
A Spanish expedition over this trail in 177(5 settled San Francisco. Later the restless Americans flowed along this river trail In the gold rush and the pioneer days, and it was the route of the stage coach and mule trains and Yuma a stage station. Tiio Gila River was a thread of life across the desert. Gen. Kearny znarchcd this way in 181(5. John C. Fremont and Kit Carson traveled it. The amazing Mormon battalion passed this way from Missouri to San Diego. The Apaches fought with desperntion and courage, but the "West wns conquered.
BUCKEYE. A valley settlement. The Buckeye and the Arlington irrigation districts are passed, watered from a brush diversion dam up the Gila River. CAMPBELL HOTEL. Free camp. Cabins §1.00..
II ASSAY A.MPA RIVER. 9 mi. west of Buckeye.
GILA RIVER. Crossed at Gillespie Dam 20 mi. west of Buckeye; new bridge opened July 1927.
GILA BEND. Irrigation from Gillespie Dam now waters about 10.000 A. below Gila Bend; there is capacity for SO,000 A. STOUT’S HOTEL, well kept. Cabin camp §1.00. Also free camp.
SENTINEL. A desert country. THE SENTINEL, small country hotel. Free camp, also cabin camp §1.00. Keep stocked with water, supplies and emergency equipment. Aztec 14 mi. west; store, garage, meals, camp.
MOHAWK. Two stores, two garages, lunch. Free camp space; a^so cabins. Water is hauled.
WELLTON. Sandy mesa. Irrigation from wells a future possibility. Fred 1-Iughes the active personality. Fred's WELLTON HOTEL best between Phoenix and Yuma; 24 rms. restaurant all night. Fred’s garage, good. Free camp and showers.
•YUMA. Jet. of Gila and Colorado rivers. Gateway to Southern California. Ancient Spanish river crossing in the conquest and development of the Southwest. Today Yuma is a busy, growing city. Yuma Indians and their wares add a picturesque touch. Irrigation from Laguna Dam on the Colorado River; the cultivated areas 12 mi. south of Yuma. Time changes; reset your watch.
The DEL MING HOTEL leads; also HOTEL ARIZONA. rtOTEL ARDMORE, upstairs rms.. good. Several cabin camps with numerous cabins. Inf.—Chamber of Commerce.
A RIZONA-C A LI FO RN V A STATE LINE
Colorado River
30
SOUTH CALIFORNIA—178 MILES Road Conditions
Pavement and oiled gravel, 11G mi. with remainder. 82 ml., decomposed granite. Tlie Sand Hills, one of the real deserts and long a terror to travelers, now good pavement. The Mountain Springs grade with its steep climbs now concrete.
Description of Country
Tlie Old Spanish Trail in California Is close to the Mexican Border for many miles. West from Yuma 7 mi. and V/j ml. south on tlie border are tlie head gates of tlie Imperial Valley irrigation; tlie wntor comes thru Mexico. Across the line Is Algo-dones, Mexico, witii seven saloons, one it Is claimed costing $17,000. South of Holtvlllo and El Centro nre tlie Mexican border towns of Calexico and Mexicali. In the Imperial Valley the traveler is 50 ft. below sea level in the bed of tlie old Salton Sea; shortly the mountains are crossed at 1,103 ft. elevation: thru tiio mountains arc resorts and camps a-top tlie world; at San Diego and the sea are hills and valleys.
Old History
San Diego is the end of tiio Old Spanish Trail and the beginning of the last works of the Spanish in tlie U.S. _In 1709 tlie San Diego mission was founded—201 yrs. after St. Augustine. During tlie American Revolution tlie Spanish were building that great chain of missions up the California coast.
FT. YUMA. A settlement at the Yuma Indian Reser-ration. Officials here search your car and baggage to prevent entry of plant or fruit diseases. Cabin camp. 25e to $1.25.
GRAY’S WELL. West from Yuma 21 mi., in the sand hill section. Good water from a deep well, phone, store. All night lunch, gas and other service at Peg's Place. Peg Hunt is said to know the highway situation in the southwest and lie appreciates travelers stopping for any service.
HOLTVILLE. One of the Imperial Valley centers. Two hotels. Three cabin camps, good. A road south lo Mexicali, Mexico. Inf.—Chamber of Commerce.
*EL CENTRO. Commercial center of the Imperial Valley. one of the great irrigation districts of the world. A irnsy. prosperous city. HOTEL BARBARA WORTH leads, a fine hotel. OREGON HOTEL, remodeled, refurnished. Good cabin camp. Calexico and Mexicali, border towns, south. Inf.—Chamber of Commerce. Also Auto Club of Southern California branch.
-MOUNTAIN SPRINGS. 30 mi. west. Store, garage, water. Established by Government in 1S-1G. Devil’s Canyon near. Splendid scenery thru these mountains. 7% grade, co -rete
pavement.
JACUMBA I-IOT SPRINGS. 44 mi. west. Mountain resort for Imperial Valley people. Elevation 2.S00 ft. Hot rov 111 r baths. Cold spring. Concrete pool, dance hall. etc. HOTEL VAUGHN. (15 rms. new, fine. Cabin camp. 25c to ‘°c. Inf.—Bert L. Vaughn. Also old Jacumba (Ha-coom-|J!>) with modern hotel. Mistletoe Lodge 1 ml. west and cottages.
BOULEVARD. Store and supplies. Summer resort. Camp.
West to San Diego 70.5 mi. are settlements, mountain, valley and spring camping places, cabin auto camps, turn-‘Shed cabins, small hotels, meals, etc. The mountain sum-“lit is passed at 4.103 ft. In Arizona, New .Mexico and ioxas higher elevations nre reached. These are listed "nder Bisbee, Ariz. summit.
*SAN DIEGO. This is the Pacific Terminus of the ul'l Spanish Trail. It was the beginning of the Spanish occupation of California. The first mission. Sail Diego de A|ealn, was started in 17G9. then followed those other sanctuaries “a (lav’s iournev apart” northward on and Beyond San Francisco. twentv-one ill all. While the patriots