224 GUIDEBOOK OF THE WESTERN UNITED STATES 
are the high pinnacles and ridges of the Castle Dome Mountains. 
To the west are the lofty Gila Mountains, consisting of granite and 
schist; to the south are many low ridges of schist, making the Wellton 
Hills; and to the southeast the Baker Peaks and the Copper Moun- 
tains, referred to above. To the north is an irrigated district of 
considerable size which is closely approached by the railroad near 
Adonde siding. 
OLD MAIN LINE, PICACHO TO WELLTON, ARIZ. 
Until 1928 the trains of the Southern Pacific lines continued north- 
westward from Picacho to Wellton via Maricopa, where there is a 
branch to Phoenix. Now most passenger trains pass over a new 
line northward from Picacho to Phoenix and thence down the north 
side of the Gila Valley to join the old line at Wellton, as just described. 
The old line from Picacho to Wellton is described below 
Near Eloy siding (see sheet 23, p. 206) an irrigation dutviak which 
extends to Casa Grande is baterad. Cotton and alfalfa are the 
Eloy principal crops, together with melons, figs, and a fine 
variety of head lettuce for which the soil and climate 
Elevation 1,566 feet. & ¢ ° 
Population 13. seem particularly suitable. The lettuce is ready for 
New Orleans 1,49 shipment in November, before it is available from 
miles. . . e ° ‘ 
competing districts. The water is brought by ditches 
from the Gila River near Florence, and considerable water is also 
pumped from wells in the valley fill using electricity as an eco- 
nomical source of power 
About midway between Toltec siding and Casa Grande the railroad 
passes north of the Casa Grande Mountains, a group of rugged peaks 
hele of pre-Cambrian schist. Three miles to the northeast 
are the Three Peaks, which consist of granite. About 
Elevati 
ac 15 miles southwest of Toltee are the conspicuous 
ea Orleans 1,55 Sawtooth Mountains, which consist of lavas of 
Tertiary age. : 
Casa Grande is on a broad, smooth plain of sand and loam (valley 
fill), in which the slope of the land is scarcely perceptible. The 
Casa Grande. |™ean annual rainfall is about 6% inches. About 18 
ES miles northeast of Casa Grande station are the ruins 
Population 1,351. Of the prehistoric houses of Casa Grande, which are 
ee | near the railroad on the main line from Picacho to 
Phoenix. (See p. 197.) Nine miles south of Casa 
Grande is the Papago Indian village of Chiu-Chiuschu (population 
349), where there is a school and a pumping plant to obtain water 
for irrigation. Many detached mountains and packy buttes are 
yeible.) in all directions from Casa Grande and vicinity.® 
. _ About 15 miles a south are the | interesting succession of Paleozoic rocks 
comprising Bolsa quartzite and Abrigo 
limestone (Combrian) and Martin 
