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While driving up through Tonto National Forest, on our way through Young, Az., I started wondering about the Indian, Tonto in the Lone Ranger show that aired back from 1947-59! Well, I actually use to watch it when I was a kid, did any of you? Tonto was made to become The lone rangers friend, one he could confide in and trust. The Lone Ranger saved Tonto as a young kid and later befriends him. The two are great together in the show and overcome many obstacles as a team.

The Lone Ranger went by a strict code put in place by a man named Striker and it reads this;

I believe to have a friend, a man must be one. That all men are created equal and that everyone has within himself the power to make this world a better world. That god put the firewood there, but that every man must gather and light it himself. In being prepared physically, mentally, and morally to fight when necessary for what is right, that a man should make the most of what equipment he has that this government of the people and for the people shall live always. That man shall live by the rule of what is best for the greatest number. Sooner or later, somehow, we must settle with the world and make payment of what we have taken and that all things change, the truth alone lives on forever, in my creator, my country and my fellow man. Tonto also starred in his own comic published by Dell. Another comic with a Native American was by Marvel named after the “Apache kid” ( read article on him)

The Tonto National Forest is the largest of the six national forests here in Arizona. It has a very diverse landscape with elevations ranging from 1400 in the Sonoran to 7,400 in the Ponderosa pines of the Mogollan rim. Established in 1905 to protect its watersheds & reservoirs with 350,000 acre ft. Of water! Tonto National Forest has 6 major reservoirs and can store 2 million acre ft of water and is home to many pre-historic Indian tribes. Also, Tonto Apache reservation is located inside this forest at Payson and use it to grow plants and other traditional purposes.

The Forest has a history of producing copper, gold , silver,lead, zinc and many other metals.

Thank you for reading, hope you enjoyed and learned something you never knew before! Please share with everyone you know! Have a great and blessed day!