Ash Fork, Ariz. (name because of ash trees growing in townsite) -- Alt. 5,128; pop. of twp. 1,200. Junction point where line to Phoenix branches from the transcontinental mainline. Fred Harvey station hotel, Escalante, named after Padre Francisco Silvestre Velez Escalante, a pioneer Franciscan priest who journeyed through Arizona in 1776. Picacho butte and Mount Floyd rise west and northwest. Cathedral Caves, in solid rock, 12 miles south. Cattle and sheep raising.
Drake, Ariz. (named for W. A. Drake, chief engineer of original railroad) -- Alt. 4,649; pop. 18. Cedar wood-chopping camps. Train crosses steel bridge 650 feet long, spanning Hell Canyon, 170 feet above dry stream bed. Verde Valley line, from Drake to Clarkdale (a 38 mile trip), traversing two-thirds the way box canyon of Upper Verde -- scenery like Grand Canyon, but on smaller scale. At Clarkdale (alt. 3,376; pop. 3,500) Jerome smelter of United Verde Copper Company, owned by late ex-Senator W. A. Clark, has been rebuilt, with enlarged capacity. At Jerome (alt. 5,400k pop. 7,000), 10 miles by connecting railroad from Clarkdale, are several rich copper mines. Caves of cliff dwellers and Indian mounds near track. These mounds were once houses, occupied by Hueitlapanecas, who abandoned them in 544; cliff dwellings along Verde River were occupied by the Chicamecs. Junction point of Santa Fe branch to Clarkdale.
Del Rio, Ariz. (Spanish, means "the river") -- Alt. 4,429. At southern end of Chino Valley. One of the few valleys in Arizona having a surplus water supply; about 3,000 acres under cultivation.
Entro, Ariz. (Spanish, means "enter") -- Alt. 5,168. Junction to Mayer and Humboldt; this is in the midst of Granite Dells, a worthy rival of the Garden of the Gods.
Prescott, Ariz. (named for W. H. Prescott, noted historian) -- Alt. 5,389, pop 10,000. County seat Yavapai County. Headquarters, Prescott National Forest. Near geographic center of Arizona. Many important industries, including mining and stock raising; the oldest mining center in Arizona -- gold, silver and copper. Court house built of native granite; first capital of Arizona -- old log building -- still stands. One mile from city is Whipple barracks, a government post (established 1864), which was converted into public health hospital for ex-soldiers; contains 527 beds. Captain King made this locally famous in one of his novels of army life. Chino Valley farms 3,000 acres, on Lake Watson, east of hospital. State highway, running over backbone of the Rockies, south from Prescott; also short line highway to Jerome; Montezuma castle and Montezuma well, in Verde Valley, about 55 miles east of Prescott. Frontier Day celebration is held annually, July 3 to 5 -- a notable "Wild West" affair. Annual Smoki Snake Dance held in August. Junction point Santa Fe branch to Mayer.
Iron Springs, Ariz. (named after local springs) -- Alt. 6,032; a summer resort, located on Prescott National Forest.
Skull Valley, Ariz. -- Alt. 4,260, pop 80. Farming, cattle raising and apple orchards. A former Apache Indian settlement; many battles fought here. Mining, copper and zinc; some gold placers.
Wickenburg, Ariz. (named for Henry Wickenburg, early miner) -- Alt. 2,077; pop. 1,043. Junction of Santa Fe "cut-off" line from Phoenix to Los Angeles with line from Ash Fork. "Dude Ranch Capital" of Arizona. Gold, silver and copper are produced and a few placer workings are operated on a small scale. Hassayampa River, edge of Salt River valley, is crossed near town, which stream it is said that whoever drinks of its waters is duly qualified for the World's Ananias club. Municipal water works and lighting plant; winters are warm and dry.
Castle Hot Springs, Ariz. -- Alt. 1,967; pop. of twp. 269. Railroad station for Castle Hot Springs, located twenty-four miles east in foothills of Bradshaw mountains. Castle Hot Springs is a high-class fall, winter and spring resort.
Marinette, Ariz. (named for Marinette, Wisconsin) -- Alt. 1,148; pop. of twp. 576. On Agua Fria River, irrigation by electric pumps augmented by gravity flow during freshets; 20,000 acres under irrigation with diversified farming, principal crop is cotton.
Peoria, Ariz. (named for Peoria, Illinois) -- Alt. 1,144; pop. of twp. 2,200. Here the Salt River valley opens up fine irrigated lands. Noted for grape vineyards, figs, apricots and peaches. Two crops a year grow here of various grains, and 4 to 5 crops hay. Gold and silver mines in Bradshaw mountains.
Glendale, Ariz. -- Alt. 1,154; pop. 4,910. In Salt River valley; farming and stock raising; concrete auto roads; extensive dairy business and central point for feeding range cattle and sheep. Truck farming and fruit growing; noted for cantaloupes and head lettuce. U. S. Govt. poultry experimental station.
Phoenix, Ariz. -- Alt. 1,080; pop. Metropolitan Phoenix 141,000. County seat of Maricopa County and capital of Arizona; founded in 1867. Located on north side of Salt River in fertile Salt River valley. Noted winter resort, climate warm, dry and sunny; many resort hotels and guest ranches; numerous sanitariums. Ideal farming section; lands under irrigation from Roosevelt reservoir and Salt River project of U. S. Reclamation service and other projects. Large groves of orange, olive, lemon, grapefruit, date and plum trees. Long avenues of palms, pepper trees and other semi-tropical foliage in suburbs. Phoenix controls its own water supply from Verde River. Transportation system municipally owned. State capital is situated in a beautiful park. Many fine office and business buildings -- churches, schools, hotels, theaters, etc. Headquarters, Tonto National Forest. Fine resort hotels including Arizona Biltmore, Westward Ho and Camelback Inn at Phoenix, Jokake Inn at Jokake, and Adobe House at Scottsdale, Ingleside Inn at Phoenix, Wigwam Guest Ranch at Litchfield Park, and San Marcos at Chandler. Business, social and country clubs. U. S. Indian School, one of the largest in the United States. Papago Park four miles east of city. Encanto Municipal Park. Remains of large prehistoric pueblos and irrigation canals in the valley.
About 75 miles from Phoenix is Roosevelt Dam, a monumental engineering work costing about $11,000,000, completed in 1911. Height 285 feet; thickness at base 168 feet and at the crest, 20 feet; length on top 700 feet. Creates artificial lake, 28 square miles in area. When full, reservoir contains 1,635,000 acre feet, or three years' supply for 200,000 acres. Four other dams furnish storage and power for the farmers of the valley. In addition there are several smaller irrigation projects. A scenic highway, one of the most noted in the U. S. extends over valley and mountain country past several artificial lakes to the Great Roosevelt Dam and returns via the southwestern Arboretum at Superior.