Arizona citizen., 1877-11-30
sEFeRE THE WAR AND NOW.
ArixoaH she Next and Last EI Dora
 do 0f America.

do Of America.
 On our first page will be found a
 very interesting article in the early
 prosperity of Arizona. Our Territory
 has been lingering under difficulties of
 of great magnitude ever since the eom-
 nencenent of our late civil war. The
 effects of this war and the incursions
 of hostile Indians was a heavy load to
 carry, and much wealthier country
 than Arizona was then supposed to be
 would avestaggeBed under the burden
 Some incredulous people were inclined
 b pass over all these expressing cir eumstances and attributed the stagnant condition of affairs in this Territory to a want of resources.
 The article referred to shows that Southern Arizona possessed consider able enterprise and pluck twenty years ago, and the development of her re- sources at that time was rapidly dis covering her real wealth, she had towns, hotels, newspapes, stage lines, mines, ranches, Sc, and the ''outside {" world was looking ArizOnaward with con- siderable interest; but the dreaded evil Of civil strife rolled heavily over She coul&ry, and with such crushing effect that even energy and pluck could not withstand its power, and enterprise and capital were driven from the land. The wheels of time rolled wearily over decade and more of years, and yet She resources of Arizona were stilIl dormant.
 As a natural result the "outside '' booked with great distrust upon our Territory, and whenever its name was mentioned there was a good deal of head-shaking and shrugging of should CTS, and nsany dIsparaging conjectures. Arizona was long way of, the road was te4ous and dreary; fares and freights were high; comfort and luxn- ries were few, and the privaiions and dangers many, the country was unex- plored and unsettled, but worst of all The Indians were very bad.
 We are willing to admit that all these charges were true, and applicable even four year ago, and this admission is a strong argument in our favor, for had Arizona been a less rich and desirable country she would not have recovered from the severe blows of 1861 to 1873 the outside" would never have made the effort or taken the trouble and chances to redeem the prostrated in- terests of the unfortunate Territory. But the material was here, and the men were made with the will and the nerve tO surmOunt all difficulties in ex- ploring the country, unearthing its treas ures and developing Its resources. The greatest obstacle was removed in the subjugatiOn of the hostile Indians, which let the eager prospeciOrs into every section of our vast Territory. The door was then thrown wide open [ for exploration and settlement, the ad- vantage of the situation has been well taken. The Territory has made rapid strides in advance these last four years, I no: only equaling her former self, but ( oD, and on, until she seems 10 have a oerTesped even vaulting ambition I 90 that today we hold a position to be ! proud of Not only have we thriving [ towns full of intelligence and energy, | with comfortable homes and happy T people, ranches, mines, newspapers 2 and stage lines, but we have the tele- a graph and the railroad, and the out q side" look upon us not only with favor and confidence, but with eager Il interest, and eondesend to term our s Territory "tbe next and lasi Fl Dora '' do of America" s