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SAN FRANCISCO MOUNTAIN.—LEROUX’s SPRING.— RIO VERDE. 
San Francisco mountain, so often referred to, is a huge volcanic pile, with several conical 
peaks near the centre, elevated to the height of at least a mile above its base. From the east, 
its axis appears to extend from northwest to southeast about ten miles, where it is terminated by 
a gigantic mass of granite. The steep slopes are everywhere covered with a dense growth of tim¬ 
ber, spruce and pine, extending nearly to the highest pinnacles. From the base eastward, are 
alternate groves and prairies broken by numerous volcanic hills. Upon old Spanish maps the 
San Francisco mountain is represented as belonging to the continuous Mogollon chain, which 
comes from the east-southeast, and was called Sierra de los Cosninos, the name of a tribe of Indians 
inhabiting this region. We now find a division between the two ranges affording the desired 
passage. To search for water, this being our third day without it, we turned the southwest 
point of San Francisco mountain, and, avoiding the valley on the left, kept upon the spurs close 
at its foot. After travelling about seven miles, we reached a permanent spring that poured 
from a hill-side and was lost in the grassy plain below. In honor of the guide it was called 
Leroux’s spring. It is the same to which he conducted Captain Sitgreaves two years since, but 
by a different route, passing around the north and the western base of the mountain. 
The grass is covered with snow, except in spots among rocks on the hill-sides, and the poor 
mules can scarcely satisfy their hunger. From our last bivouac we have passed through groves 
of magnificent pines, intermingled with cedars and dwarf oaks. Some of the latter may be 
large enough for railroad ties, and perhaps might be found more plenty in other parts of this 
extensive forest region. The spruce trees would afford a supply for this purpose. The cedars 
are of a new species, and are frequently two feet in diameter. They bear a sweet berry which 
Indians gather for food. Upon the more elevated mountain slopes, beside the Douglass spruce, 
there are tall pines of a species different from those that grow upon the plains below. 
December 18.—Two years ago, when Leroux was here with Captain Sitgreaves, the hills 
were covered with savages, who occasioned them considerable annoyance by hostile demonstra¬ 
tions. But thus far, since leaving the Navajo country, we have not seen the fresh track of a 
wild Indian. The snow is untrodden, except by beasts and birds, which afford plenty of game. 
Antelope, deer, hares, and turkeys, are abundant; also a singular species of striped squirrel, 
which Dr. Woodhouse was the first to find in this region. 
Well content with the results of the exploration, at 1 p. m. we turned back for the train. 
Following the course of the open, meadow-like valley, irrigated by the waters of Leroux’s 
spring, we passed southeast and east about four miles, and discovered a small stream flowing 
towards the great southern valley, and forming probably the main branch of Bio Verde.* It is 
fed by springs. The barometer indicated a descent of two hundred feet from Leroux’s spring. 
From the San Francisco springs we passed over a spur from the hills, and encamped near the 
southeast point of the mountains, having travelled about six miles. 
Snow upon the hill-sides is much less than yesterday, many spots now being bare. Grass is 
therefore not so scarce. Our bivouac is somewhat elevated upon the slope from the foot of the 
mountains, and looks over the dark forest before mentioned. Leroux thinks he can distinguish 
in the distance, south, blue peaks of mountains lying near Rio Gila. 
A breeze renders the air chilly, but with a semicircle of green boughs, and a blazing fire in 
front, we do not feel the need of tents. 
December 19.—At 9 a. m. we continued our backward march, to a point near the bivouac of 
December 16. Here we turned more to the right, and, from the prairie valley before men¬ 
tioned, found an arroyo leading eastward towards Canon Diablo. Turning from this, we crossed 
a low lava ridge and entered a grassy meadow. Skirting a forest of cedars and pine, we de¬ 
scended the arroyo to a sudden breaking away of the rocks, which produced a fine place for a 
waterfall, and a short canon below. Water was still standing in pools above, and beneath 
* This stream was called by Leroux Rio San Francisco, from the mountain near which it takes its rise, and it is thus desig¬ 
nated in the report of Captain Sitgreaves. The early Spanish explorers gave it the name of Rio Verde, which is still retained 
among the Mexicans of the present day, and appears upon modern maps. As there is another affluent to the Gila known as 
the San Francisco river, it would seem proper, if only to avoid confusion, to preserve the original appellation. 
