Arizona weekly citizen., 1883-01-28
Tucsov, 4. T.. Jan. 20, 1ss3.

. from one precinct alone and one of com paratiyely lI'tle stock, ID comparison tC other puTtIoLs tU Southern Arizona. When an approximation or the real value of stock stolen ID Southern Ari zrna is brought 10 light It will astound even the most careful observer-remem.
 Oer | am not referring to stock stolen by
 hostile Indians. but mostly of renegadei l frnm Sonora.
 I think l am safe in stating that three ! fifth of the thieves are from Sonora and l one-fifth more renegade to Sonora the ] other oue-tifth to New Mexico and the ! interior of our Territory, so 1t shows our southern boundary IS the great line of cover for thieving.
 Now 1t might be considered by some that the less Of stock in Southern Ari- Zuua was of DO interest or loss to any uue but the individual losers. I there fore state it is quite the contrary and ms grounds are that the Territory and especially the couuties of the fflcied portion. are deprived of a large amount uf taxes that would have been and be derived from this stock had IL not been stolen.
 There Is no doubt but the amount of taxable personal property, such as mules. horses, mares and colts, would have beenIncrsaSed equal to SlOO from Sl in many precincts had this thievin 2 been slapped two years ago.
 Just imagine Tor a moment the amount "f taxable property this would give us Mining men. miners and others have keut as ilttle horse or mule flesh as possible fn- tho reason that today they had #, and t0-mUrrOW 1t IS gone. When, instead. If # was safe to keep such property, thousands would have dvaIlei themselves uf opportunities to buy at intervals and keep. and also breed some Gs it costs nothing Co Keep them on the numerous ranges. Then they would have fresh horses to catch up and turn the worn down ones ont to recuperate.
 Thousands of animals are kept up to- lay on grain and hay at R heavy ex- peuse. because It Is uusafr to give them .Le benefit oI range. It Is dra Eback Go stock owners who make that their Duslness. they are umid about getting iu tue v!cility of the Sonora line. as heN Cannot rely Ou certain safety that hey WIll not be plundered hy wholesale. Again, 1t Is standing disgrace to Arizo Ia auI also the Uu,ted States to allow ,ucL things to te peIpetrated.
 There are number of places across he line iu Sonora that are general ren- lezvuus 0f thieves, Cutihroats and ,mugClers. TLe smugglers also do air share Ot stuck stealing, as they can Jack their goods on stolen stock and caught they lose nuthiDg but their goods, ghrIr own stock being relieved of urdsIs before crossing or attempting D cross tbe Sonora line. These cases -e, of course, exceptional, js OppO-tu- lIy dDes not always afford a chance tO arry lt ut.
 The horse-thieves and cuttbroats steal or-es 10 Sonora and bring them to Ar zpua md sell them. and when tl sy re- Irn steal horses or mules 10 Arizona md sell them ID Sonora. So they make -onora project them on one steal and ArIzpua on the other; consequently they ,re sel iOU punished.
 IL parties in Arizona follow their stock nt the thieves into Sonora they s-l- iun get the stock, for the country iS ull of accumplices. and never get any iu I>hm-nt inflicted ou the crimInalii q i- Of Mexican origin.
 lt might be well c. treat these thieves $ spies during a war and gave Bn un- Q tllsI for and siess expense of treat %, them as criminals under The code There IS no doubt that the Legislature ras power Co meet this questI1n and ! ru7h ths eyll forever with promptness 1 nd dispat,h 6. Thus evil is growing fast and unless !. @ take ste s this session 1t has le4s, | .' two years before It 1T q special session ! not called.
 | think it behooves every citizen tO l ,uk into this matter as VII as other ] Iar are of such general interest to our I eritory. The Territory and after ards a State wlll be whatever the citi- | n~ make It Now is the time to lay . he foundation uf 1 CT future greatness. lou can drive out caplt ll or hring it 10 nd It all depends on wholesome laws ud he prOmptness and justice with shlch yOu eXecute them.
 In regard to this border evil think a hrrai appropriation should he made uEh to afford means to psralyze 'ha VI at the start and crush ont without clay after which the expense could be ? luced to a very mode ate outlay and tteution.
 lt mieut b. executed by @ border ulica elected ir their respective pre- 1uCts who could also act in unison with le -heniTS oi the different counties iI ipturiug all cri ninals who were escaI- lg from ArIzuua, etc, and the Informa uu could be conveyed along the line iu me Co capture without any unneces- cry expense and leaSe bnt little chance r e cape I1 that direction. Twenty ve or thirty active men SO employed nh full powers of immediate arrest O ny one of suspicion would seem ad i-alle An understanding between Sonora | Dd Arizona as to the u, hyeriug up Of shuuid be entered into fl pos bie SO that when Mexican CT m nals | . mss the line the Mexican people would ! @ hnuud Go deliver them up wherever . . 'nnd instead Of refusal as is now the 3se. 4 law with strict accountability from le officers with heavy penalties for any reguiarItiss should he passed with us measure to stIIp it of all possibility franc, misapprop iation of mune, or with criminals, etc. ] have ! D una iu this nasty communication to % we this matter due thought and con- iteration. but 1 trust it will be the i eaus of drawing an expression from ( .e people throughout the southern ,rtinn of the Territory that the differ 't views and mode of removing the A ll nay be thoroughly canvassed be- ., rr ihe people m order tO inform the | aghslature that they may see the csuse a .d the great necessity of removing the a me. STOCEMAN. r
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