Arizona weekly citizen., 1882-08-06
GOOD BYE.
An ImprOmpss Banqzet Tehsepcsl Cther.
 al yolln Na.ssn-A Fiessazt AG4Ir.


 mentsry farewell dinner to Hon. John Wasson, now just retiring from the Sur veyor Generslshjp of Arlzons, Ina ban quet was spread in the Masonic ban | qHet hall, and was one of the bess of Johr ProtopsRlhs Park restaurant dinners.
 Among the gentlemen present were noticed Gen. J. ". Robbins. ex-Mayor Toole, .. M. StrauEs, J. J. Hamburg, E. \. Fish, Alex Levin, R. 0. Brown, H Cousins. $. M Allis, A. NJ. Bragg, J. S Mansfield, H. Buchanan, Mart Maloney Col J. A Zsbriskie, T. l.. Stiles, J. c Perry, F. W. Gregg. the employees of the Surveyor Generals office, and many others.
 After the gentlemen had dined and lit their cigars, Col Zsbriskie, master of ceremonies, began the post prandiaI formallties. In graceful words he re. ferred to the twelve years during which General Wasson had held his office without stain upon hs character, or a censure upon his official ability and in- | tegrty. For further remarks he said that be would defer to the spontaneous enthusiasm of the company, as the com nittee Tn charge desIred the dinner to be informal and social.
 In response Co calls from all part, of the table, General Wasson arose and addressed the diners His remarks were reminiscent in nature, sbounding Tn anecdotes concerning Tucson of old, and contrasting 1t with the new city of the present. In April, 1870, the speaker sad that he had come to the city. At that time 1t WAS an isolated community, containing not more than 2,500 people. It was without railroad communication, and the nearest telsgraphio station was tt San Diego, Cal, five hundred miles away. The people were without ths lax- uries and many of the so-called necessi- ties of life. The price frequently for a single egg vas two bits. The rooms in all except four or five houses were un- carpeted and without board floors or wall paper. Drinksble water was fur nIshed by a water cart drawn by G lOp- cared mule and manned by R one armed lrishmRn Even pleasure rides were de- nied the people. During the first five years the Apaches hung about the out skirts of the town, so that it was unsafe alone and unattended to drive either to San Xavier or the Nine Mile Water Hole. In concluSon be stated that while be should not resiie in Tucson be should frequently visit the city; thi1t he had many businsss interests here which would recall him at interval. to Tucson, and that he should take a deep interest in the future of the city.
 Hon. J. W. Robbins, the new Surveyor General, succeeding General Wasson. was than introduced by Colonel ZaoriIkie.
 Mir. Robbins sad, though a new comer to Tucson, he was not 6 stranger to Arizona. He had lived for some Honths in Prescott. as H cor respondent fer a Chicago paper, and had been enthusiastic in the descrlp- tions of the Territory. His obtaining the office of Surveyor General was pro bsbly due to bis bsing an Ohio man by birth. General Wasson, intsrupting- but l, who leave the office, am En Ohio man. Then, said hr. Robbins, vittily, "1f you want an other office you esp get it" While Mr. Robbins was speaking the rain began to fall and the long windows of the Masonic Hall were lit up by frequent flashes of lightning and the heat became oppressive. Wiping the precipitation from his brow. Mir. Robbins tRid that be had taxed the credulIty of the Chicago people by writing to his paper of the discovery of a mine of soft soap in Ari- zona and by describing siI mule team struck by lightning and petriiisd, which ho had seen in this same wonderful country. If he should now follow these sketches up with praise of Tucson es a summer resort, the better informed people in Chicago would call him the monumental liar of the Chicago press The speaker stated that he had come to Tucson to live and should bring his family here. His health had been deli cate and he hoped that the dry sir of Tucson would benefit him.
 Ar. Robbins remarks were well re- csived, and 6 feeling of cordishty to- wards him as a new conner seemed 10 peryads the assembly.
 Mir. T. L. Stiles spoke of the exoel- lent reputation which General Wssson had made ss s Surveyor General. Prior to hiE Mir. Stiles) coming to AriIona, some four years ago, he had heard of General WRsson as the best Surveyor General ID the United States. He hoped that the people of the TsrritoFy. might hereafter gain some benefit from the knovledge which General WsssOn had acquired by his long and psinstsk- ing lsbors, and expressed belief that his abilities would call him to s higher and more useful ottce.
 Al Mr. J. S. Mansteld's suggestion all arose and drank to the health of Mrs. Wsssou, and to her prosperity.
 After some brief remarks by Colonel Toole, there arose little oBntsring be- tween Alex. Levin and General WRsSon, over She ancient water supply of the town. It became plain theretrOm that the Boss" Levin had been totally ignO- rant of the existence of the muls water wagon, with its one armed attendant, and during that regime had managed to exist on one demgohn of water which hs had brought from Fort Lowell.
 After some remarks by MT. J. c. Perry, tscetiOusly delivered, Colonel Za6riskie proposed that the company bid each other good bye in drinking to long lite and continued prosperity to General WAsson.
 The dinner was 6 success and hand5ome and deserved tes- timooial of tho esteem in which the citizon5 of Tucson held the gentleman m whose honor 1t ERt gwen.
 Gen. Wssson goes to California in this evenings train to reside Tn tho future, the health of his wife forbid. ding longer residence in Arizona.