•PHOENIX. 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 410 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 00 mi. east.
Hotels.—ADAMS leads. LUIIRS and SAVOY, moderate priced and good. Two cabin camps and one auto camp, cast side: one cabin camp west 11 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 Vumn, where the Colorado and the Giln join and the Colorado was crossed to California. The bleak sands and their drab surroundings are a monotonous journey, but they are 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 Indinns. Many missions were established; 48,000 Indians were reported converted. The Santa Cruz Valley missions below Tucson were their sent of effort; from and thru that section the conquistadores marched to conquer and settle California anil the padres to plant the missions along the Pacific Coast. A Spanish expedition over this trnil in 177C 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. The Gila River was n thread of life across the desert. Gen. Ivenrny marched this way in 181G. John C. Fremont and Kit Carson traveled it. The amazing Mormon battalion passed tliis way from Missouri to San Diego. The Apaches fought with desperation and courage, but the West was conquered.
BUCKEYE. A valley settlement. The Buckeye ancl the Arlington irrigation districts are passed, watered from a brush diversion dam up the Gila River. CAMPBELL HOTEL. Free camp. Cabins §1.00.
IIASSAYAMPA 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 80.000 A. STOUT’S HOTEL, well kept. Cabin camp §3.00. 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: also cabins. Water is hauled.
WELLTON. Sandy mesa. Irrigation from wells a future possibility. Fred Hughes 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.
* YU IMA. .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. flOTEL ARDMORE, upstairs rms., good. Several cabin camps with numerous cabins. Inf.—Chamber of Commerce.
ARIZONA-CALIFORNIA STATE LINE
Colorado River
SOUTH CALIFORNIA—178 MILES
Road Conditions
Pavement nml fed travel, 110 ml. with remainder 32 mi decomposed gmnlte. The Sand Hills, one of the ren dcs™ and lens n terror to travelers, now rood pavement. The Moun-lain Springs grade with Its sleep climbs now conerclc.
Description of Country
The Old Spanish Trail in California Is close to the Mexican Border tor many miles. \\ cat from Yuma 7 ml. and 1>/. ml. south „„ (lie border are the head gales of the Imperial Valley lerl gallon; the water comes thru Mexico. Across the line is Algo-dones, Mexico, will, seven snloons one It is claimed costing 517,000. South of Holtvillc and T.l Centro arc the Mexican bonier towns of Calexico and Mexicali, In the Imporinl Valley the traveler is GO ft. below sea level in the bed of the old Salton Sea; shortly the mountains arc crossed at 1,103 ft. elevation; thru the mountains are resorts and camps a-top the world; at San Diego and the sea are hills and valleys.
Old History
San Diego is the end of the Old Spanish Trail and the beginning of tlie last works of the Spanish in the U.S. _In 1700 the San Diego mission was founded—301 yrs. after St. Augustine. During the American Revolution the Spanish were building that great chain of missions up the California coast.
FT. YUMA. A settlement at the Yuma Indian Reservation. Officials here search your car and baggage to prevent entry of plant or fruit diseases. Cabin camp, 25c 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
I-Iunt is said to know the highway situation in the southwest and he appreciates travelers stopping for any service.
IIOLTVILLE. One of the Imperial Valley centers. Two hotels. Three cabin camps, good. A road south to Mexicali, Mexico. Inf.—Chamber of Commerce.
*EL CENTRO. Commercial center of the Imperial Valley, one of the great irrigation districts of the world. A busy, 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. 35 mi. west. Store, garage, water. Established by Government in 3S1G. Devil’s Canyon near. Splendid scenery thru these mountains. 7% grade, co :rete pavement.
JACUMBA HOT SPRINGS. 44 mi. west. Mountain resort for Imperial Valley people. Elevation 2.S00 ft. Hot sulphur baths. Cold spring. Concrete pool, (lance half etc. HOTEL VAUGHN, Go rms. new, fine. Cabin camp, 23c to 7oe. Inf.—Bert L. Vaughn. Also old Jacumbn (Ha-coom-lia) with modern hotel. Mistletoe Lodge 1 mi. west am cottages.
BOULEVARD. Store and supplies. Summer resort. Camp.
West to San Diego 70.5. mi. are settlements, mountain, ralle.v and spring camping places, cabin auto camps, furu-'Shod cabins, small hotels, meals, etc. Tito mountain mu is passed at 4.103 ft. In Arizona, New Mexico and Texas higher elevations are reached. These under Bisbee, Ariz. summit.
*SAN DIEGO. This is the Pacific Terminus of the 01<1 Spanish Trail. It was the beginning o: theSpfeisli occupation of California. The first "nssion, San Diego «e Alcala, was started in 17G9, then followed those otne sanctuaries “a day's journey apart”	®“tHots
beyond San Emnclonn fwentv-one ill all. Mhile the •
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