Weekly Phoenix herald., 1883-08-16

lelFanS only runs 10 marx tnclr dwelling places. Thus the Salt River Valley had been lying 9 lone ly and desolaie waste. for unknown ages, until Inc arrival of iilt.e band us American settlers, coming from Prescott, through thc gor.es of tho Bradshaws. from the Colorado yer, from Tucson and New Mexico, over weary burning deserts, endur- ing hunger and thirst and Indian crIelties. meet at last in this Valley and build the town of
 PHGNIX.
 As soon as the comini, sioners ap- pointed by Inc Salt River Valley Association had received their ins truction iliey employed Capt. ". A. Hancock to survey and plai out the chosen town site, and by the 14'h day of December, 1870, suhicieu, number of lots had been surveyed tn enable the town trustees to hold | sale, and ihus secure funds enough to prose cute inc work of surveying. This work was necessarily slow and interrupted, as money was scarce, but by tee spring of 1871, the las lot had been surveyed ard the map furnished by Capt Hancock showed  a town site ore mile in length by half mi'e in width divided into nineiy-eight blocks.
 Tie first lot sold was that DE the southwest corner of Washington and Moniezpma streets. It was bought l'y Judge Berry of Prescott. fer S1O4 while tic adloiaing lot drought $40. These two lots arc now covered by Irrincs; uiiding and are worth many thousands of dollars. Hancock s tot on the opposite corner. for which Ellis < Co. recently paid $9.t00 brought s7o.
 The first house completed was 2 smaIl adobe building on Wa-hlns- tJn street, near to Nontezuma, which has been recently demolished 10 naNe room for the fine brlck bui'd ing of Ellis de Co. This little house played quite an important part both iu the history of the town and the county. Before the separation of Maricopa county from YaYapai, and until the county ourt house had been built it did duty as court room and Justices office, and the Probate Jadsc, Treasurer, Recorder, Sheriff and in fact all the county as well IS town officers transacted their busi- ness here. Here assembled the first Board of Supervisors, and it's narrow walls echoed 10 the sound of many a stormy dcha;e and troubled election In the political history of Maricopa county q fuller and more complete history of this first ''brcvet'' court house will be gigen.
 "Mikc's Bfenery,' situatcd on Washington street, midway between Montczuma and Maricopa streets, was tue next house completed, and this was followed by the Loring Buildings, which were erected by John George, who afterwards sold them 10 Buchard, who opened stoie there. Other houses quickly fol- lowcd, and soon the main street was lined un both side with quite Q little group of hogsss.
 Before the summer of Fl tl,e county court house was erected, On los facing the c0Grt house plaza, from the east. This house s.iil stands and is the property of Capt. Hancock.
 i'm. Smith, the first store keeper in tine new town, occupied the little Hancock building, and Dennis & Murphy opened T store in the build ing now oceupied by Hooper t Go. near Mikes Brewery"
 Barnett & Block commenced do- ing business about the same time, also L. Irvine These were the pio- aeer merchants of Phoenix.
 Even in the carly days of this lit~ tIc settlement the value of education was not forgotten. The town irus- ters with wise forcthought set aside q blecl, for q school house, aud to- day Pborpix boasts the finest school building in the Territory. The ma sons were also presented with lot. and to aid in the advancement of the community, Buchart was pre- sented with an entire block on which to erect a flouring mill, with the proviso that he should com meace building the mill by the lst Of May, 1871, and have his machiu- cry on the ground by July 1812. BAchard fulfilled his agreement, but the mill took fire and the machinery was destroyed shortly after it's oon- pltion. Tie oli building was alters wards occupied by G. Cecher as brewery, and was subsequently, torn down to make room for a corral and livery stable by Geo Hsaplip.