"Nothing could be more refreshing than a sudden encounter with a broad green stretch of this kind after miles across arid wastes where one begins to imagine meadows, farms, and shady brooks to be mere phantasmagoria–when, lo! a magic turn of the road reveals a sweep of emerald with ditches of dsahing water, plume–like poplars of Lombardy, fan–spreading tall cottonwoods, vineyards, roses, peach and apple orchards, fig tree, long lines of acanthus, and all the surroundings of comfortable country life. Again a turn, and the mellow beauty vanishes–not a drop of water anywhere in sight."

F.S. Dellenbaugh, 1904