The Phoenix herald., 1879-03-08
TUCS0&.
$ Description of tEse Climate,
 Manners. Customs. Etc.
TUCSON, FeDruary is, 1879

TUcsoN, February IS, 1879
 Tucson is the most prominent city in southern Arizona; and, in very many respects, the most prominent and important place in the territory. Its prominence arises from the fact that it is one of the oldest, if not, in deed, the oldest Pueblo, or town site, (preserved from ruins), to be found in any of the Pacific states or territories. from the fact that it is the leading business place in Arizona in every respect, and for long time its po- litical capital; on account of its being in close proximity to noun tains of copper and silver and gold and because it will soon be on the rans-continental thoroughfare now being grandly pushed through this marvelously pictorial section, and because, also, of its accessibility to the mineral producing states of our sister republic.
 During three trips which 1 have made through Arizona during the past twelve years, I have visited Tucson and the church of San Xavier del Bac each time, and have failed to discover accurately the date or circumstances of the settlement of this bright particular gem of this far-of' glittering landscape. Upon my last visit to the church of San Xavier (this famous Mecca of all Arizona tourists and travelers), l SEW manuscript chronological accounts of marriages solemnized under then ven erable roof of this sacred pile more than 150 years ago, and have other wise been made the recipient of in formation showing almost indisputa- bly, that Tucson was a settlement two hundred and thirty odd years ago.
 It is historically known that Tucson is nearly 200 years old; that 100 years ago it was military post, and con tained a population of nearly 500 people, and that so years after it con tained at least 1000 inhabitants. This population then became re- duced, and in 1855 we find only about 400 people, mostly McXicans. In 1865, however, we may multiply these last figures by three, and cor rectly arrive at the number of inhab- itants And now we find polyglOt the Mexicans predominate, but are the hewers of wood and drawers of water, for your thrifty, migratory Hebrew has already g corner in everything of mercantile character; the representative or der fadcrland is running brewery; the much abused washee, washee nomad is running a laundry, and either your high toned and self-sacriicing American CT Irish man is running for all tie offices in view.
 But it is Tucson at present which claims our attention, and more es- pecially its transformation from twelve and fifteen years ago. Ii is an aIobe-built town, because the sun burned brick builds better, cheaper. more agreeable and more healthlul houses than either wood or fire-made brick. The houses are nearly all one-st0ry, although there arc several two-story structures, and, 1 believe, few of three stories. The population must reach at least 5000, and there were 539 votes cast at the late elec- tion for delegate to congress. There may be as many, or more, MeXicans as there are people of other national ities, yet it does not seem so to me l am sure that there are more Ameri- can men, (classing all as Americans who are not MeXicans and Indians who pass as such) than there are natives, etc, but the Mexican women greatly outnumber all others, while the children of native parents, as they range around the street corners, look like strings of large dark beads; or, gathered together in courts, or in front of doorways, put one in mind of collections of potatoes-very small, generally, but many in hill.
 There are a large number of first class dry goods, grocery, liouor and variety stores. These are mostly run by Hebrews, although several are kept by Americans and MeXicans. One of the largest and best-tilled stores to be found in any one section outside of San Francisco is kept by an American firm, Lord x Williams. Ochoa, a Mexican, and splendid old gentleman, does tremendous local business and trade with Sonora. The Zeckendorf Brothers, Hebrews, keep up large stocks, and rank now only as public-spirited citizens, and the squarest kind of merchants, but each is an embodiment of liberality and good fellowship. The trade with Sonora is wonderfully large, one firm alone doing a business with the