Harqua Hala letters the story of Arizona's forgotten 1920's Smithsonian Institution Observatory (SuDoc I 53.22/8:9)

The only access to the top of the mountain in those days was a five mile trail up the northwest slope. Radio had not yet been developed, so communication with Wenden was done by heliograph (mirrors) and Morse Code. This was a time-consuming and very unsatisfactory way. The one character that provides continutity on the peak was an old prospector by the name of Bill Ellison who lived by a spring, a mile and a half from the top. he had filed several mining claims around the peak; but he readily granted the Institution surface rights to use the land. He, with his burros was the supply link to the outside world, and often brough later residents vegetables from his garden or a piece of freshly killed venison for dinner. Read more RKV-38.HarquaHalaLetters