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Show 237 good stream of cool water and an abundance of cottonwood and box elder. The stream, called Box Elder Creek on Martineau's "Chart," was estimated to be capable of watering twenty acres. Dame had found what is called today Condor Canyon. Word was soon received in camp from one of Hopkins's company. The Iron County men had depleted their water and needed help. Dame himself went north to pilot the unfortunate company into the valley. Somehow, Hopkins had failed to find Cricket Springs and had traveled sixty-nine miles without finding water. It is not known why Hamilton and Couch failed in their assignment to guide Hopkins's company to the spring, but somehow the twenty-eight man party slipped past them unnoticed. The trouble Hopkins found himself in demonstrates that Dame's perceptions were correct. Leaving the guides behind was a smart move, but the men assigned for the task failed to carry out their responsibilities. The beleaguered company arrived late in the afternoon. They planned to rest and recuperate until the 28th before continuing their journey to Cave Spring. While Dame was guiding Hopkins into camp, the rest of the company spent the day leveling for the ditch. It seemed, however, that problems might force them to abandon this project if not the entire Meadow Valley venture. The farm land was a mile and a half from the water, and it was now doubtful whether the land could be sufficiently leveled to allow the water to flow onto the necessary ground. President Dame was depressed over the prospects of the settlement. He decided to send an express through to Parowan with a letter to be forwarded to Brigham Young. That evening he penned the letter dated from "Desert Camp, Meadow Valley, 147 miles from Parowan." He began by reciting a history of bis wanderings since his last communication from Bennett's Springs, more than three weeks |