Arizona weekly citizen., 1884-02-16
BY JOHN wASSoN, LATE sURYEYOR-GEI
 ERAL OF ARIZONA.

OAKLAND, Feb. 4.-Col. Charles D. Poston: Tucson, A. T.-DEAR SIR: l have recently received two cards bearing the printed legend Arizona Pioneers Palace Hotel, Jan. 31, 1881. s o'clock Wine card" and written in familiar hand Compliments of Charles D. Pos ton" This seems to imply the present existence of Arizona Pioneers, and that they were to have banquet. When l received the cards, I involuntarily queried: who are meant by Arizona Pioneers? Certainly not the people who built the cities and dug the canals, etc, in the Gila valley and elsewhere, of which but traces remain, for they have long since joined the majority on the other side of the dark river, and left us no known history of themselves except 1t be in hieroglyphics upon the rocks.
 l thought of the various tribes of h. disns, and Yet 1t hardly seemed that they. under the pious influences of Grants policy, or the persuasion of Gen. Crook and fear of the newspapers, or the Zabriskie-Tiffany campaign, had ad- yanced enough in civilization to feast ut TUcson's Palace caTavansary with print ed wine cards, etc.
 Then the jesuit Fathers were con sidered, but they all must long since have gone to that bourne to which all pioneers must go, nolens yolens.
 Again l thought of the Hispanola- Mexican people who pushed their way down the Santa Cruz to its sink and built the ancient and honorable pueblo" before the English language was spoken or printed within the present limits of Arizona It they were meant it would seem as if fancy-printed wine cards were supertiuoUs, because few kegs of mes cal and gourd cups with a generous sup ply of panole, panocha and carne seca, tomales, and enchiladas for dessert would better tipIfy theIr pioneer work than the viands and wines of the Palace.
 But l was somehow impressed that these were not the pioneers referred to, and concluded the English-speaking American pioneers of AriZoDa must be meant, and then the question arose: How many years back ones residence must date to constitute him an Ameri- can pioneer? If 1t should be a time when the shriek of the locomotive and the click of the telegraph wire were heard at distance of five hundred miles or more, when it required an average of ten days and Sl50 to travel between San Francisco and Tucson, and the best pub lie conveyance between San Diego and the Rio Grande valley was a poor stage or worse blackboard; when hostile Apaches murdered and robbed the set tiers and travellers on every side of Tue son and within sight thereof; when the floors of not one-half dozen rooms in the town were covered with either boards or carpets; when there was not a pub lie school in the Territory, and when other conveniences, comforts and out Prowths of civilization were lacking. then I might, if there, claim to be an Arizona pioneer. The sending of the cards to me led me to infer that such a period was probably fixed, and Tue son dispatch to the San Francisco Bull letin confirms the inference-the date indicated being 1870. I arrived in Ari- zona about April 10, 1870. For over twelve years l took an active part in the TerritOry's affairs. There never was 9 condition of public affairs about which my voice or pen failed to express my honest convictions. Always intending to be right, I doubtless was some times NIOuE. II OuE lOIeSlEul were equal TO our hind or backward sight, I presume we'd all make different records, and pre- sumably for the better. The years I spent in Arizona were full of stirring events of a public nature, and amid many drawbacks and disadvantages there was constant progress. Each year pop ulation and wealth increased, as well as the comforts and even luXuries of life. l am glad to know the same encourag- ing conditions prevail. have no doubt but they always will. Where there are great natural resources there must be gradual prosperity. would gladly hear of the members of your organization of Pioneers gathering in wealth and enjoy ing 1t on this side the dark river. As was said on a former occasion, "God bless you, my children
 Very truly yours,
 JOHN WAssoN.