10119. The Arizona Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory, June 20th, 1868, Prescott and La Paz Wagon Road.

The Arizona Miner Prescott, Arizona Territory June 20th. 1868 Prescott and La Paz Wagon Road . Ed. Miner : — Allow mer through the medium of your journal , to make a simple statement in regard to the road between Prescott and La Paz, in which there is not a person in Yavapai County but what is more or less interested. This is the great thoroughfare over which government and the citizens of Central Arizona receive their- supplies . It is, to a great extent, as nature formed it, a natural wagon road, but like all roads over mountain countries, has its barriers, and is nearly the same to— day as it was four years ago, and needs many repairs, some of which are almost indispensable; especially that portion of the road between Mint Valley and Tonto Springs, Bell s Canyon and the Mesa west of Willow Springs———some little repairs have been made by passing trains and one small subscription, not enough to make it passible for heavy loaded wagons. The road from Camp McPherson or Date Creek, to La Paz, formerly passed directly over Date Creek Mountain, but owing to the frequent heavy rains of last year, the road was injured to such an extent that it became impassible, and freighters were compelled to take a more circuitous route by the way of Martin 's Canyon, lengthening the road between Prescott and La Paz to nearly 200 miles, whilst it should be reached in about 175 miles . Mr. Sparks, an energetic citizen and Arizona Pioneer, who, at present, is opening the hugh gold ledge west of Black Tanks, has made two or three trips from Date Creek, passing below (west) the mountain r and entering the McMullen Valley, near Cullen s Well, informs me that with a few hundred dollars, expended in a proper manner, a good wagon road can be opened, making a cut off of twenty or twenty—five miles, which will afford one more water than we now have, which will make the desert no desert at all . Now, what we all need is a good road and a free road, and we can have it all by subscribing their mite and placing it in the hands of some competent person, to open up that portion of the road in Yavapai County . Yuma County proposes repairing the remainder of the road in that county, Two thousand dollars expended in a proper manner by some person who understands the wants of freighters will repair and make the road good from Prescott to McMullen's Valley. And I am credibly informed that nearly one—half of the necessary amount will be subscribed by some half dozen persons, and I have no doubt but that others will come forward and help in this matter in which all have an interest. Chas. W. Beach. NOTE: Martin s- is probably Martinez Canyon .