t or dropped
completely out of sight.

In many of the canons where water flows continuously, effects are
produced that are exactly the opposite of those ascribed to water
erosion. Instead of the running water cutting deeper into the earth it
has partly filled the canon with alluvium, thereby demonstrating
nature's universal leveling process. Even the floods of water which
pour through them during every rainy season with an almost irresistible
force carry in more soil than they wash out and every freshet only adds
new soil to the old deposits. If these canons were all originally made
by water erosion as is claimed, why does not the water continue to act
in the same manner now but, instead, completely reverses itself as
above stated? There can be but one of two conclusions, either that
nature has changed or that scientists are mistaken.

The Aravaipa in southern Arizona is an interesting canon and is typical
of its kind. Its upper half is shallow and bounded by low rolling
foothills, but in the middle it suddenly deepens and narrows into a box
canon, which has high perpendicular walls of solid rock like the Grand
Canon. It is a long, narrow valley sunk deep into the earth and has
great fertility and much wild beauty. It measures from a few feet to a
mile in width and drains a large scope of rough country. The surface
water which filters through from above reappears in numerous springs of
clear cold water in the bottom of the canon. In the moist earth and
under the shade of forest trees grow a variety of rare flowers, ferns
and mosses.

Where the canon begins to box a large spring of pure cold water issues
from the sand in the bottom of a wash which is the source of the
Aravaipa creek. It flows through many miles of rich alluvial land and
empties into the San Predo river. The valley was settled many years
ago by men who were attracted to the spot by its rare beauty, fertility
of soil and an abundance of wood and water.

The land is moist and covered by a heavy growth of forest trees, which
will average over one hundred feet high. The trees are as large and
the foliage as dense as in any eastern forest. Being sunk deep in the
earth the narrow valley at the bottom of the canon can only be seen
from above. When viewed from some favorable point it has the
appearance of a long green ribbon stretched loosely over a brown
landscape. The sight of it is a pleasant surprise to the weary
wayfarer who, after travel