The Clifton clarion., 1888-02-01
Leaves from Thatcher.

There is tide in the affairs of men, says Shakespeare, which, if taken at the flood, leads to fortune; and applying this saying to events now happening in the administra- tion of our county affairs it looks as if the Supervisors had caught the flood tide. Economy is the order of the day The county will no doubt this year be more thoroughly and justly assessed, bringing an increased revenue. With this year ends the salary bill; and without doubt next year will see this county out of debt and her warrants at par.
 The valley seems full of life and sound and gladness. January seems to have had bequeathed to her a legacy of golden weather, and she carries it in her open hand sharing it with all of us. And sleepily lies the warm sun light over the new-plowed fields, and the winding channel of the ripping Gila is marked by rows of Pollard willows now green with their first leaves. As settlements and cultivation increase it is found that climatic changes occur. 4 greater degree of moisture is be- ing produced and the grain now being sown will without doubt re- quire less irrigation than in for mer years.
 This settlement of Thatcher is improving rapidly. Strangers are surprised at the advances our people have made.
 A most excellent clay has been found, from which brick Is now being made.
 At the store of c. Layton an in creased business is noted.
 It is now seed time and every one is busy, but with our presi- dent it seems both seed time and harvest, too, for he seems that, as he has travelled over life's rough highway, he has with liberal hand scattered the seeds of kindness as he passed, and now the harvest is abundant and blessed.
 Thatcher, as she is loved by her citizens, praised by her visitors, summed by the rumseller, en- frightened by the educators, is surely and steady, but with rapid strides, marching onward. But yesterday she was scarcely known; to day her praises are on every tongue. What her tomorrow will be no man dare attempt to proph- ecy; but that she IS to poor human ity what Canaan was to Abraham no one will dispute. But the crowning glory of the Gila vale is its perpetual sunshine, which, like the halo of ever present joy, hangs over the entire settlements, fruc- tifying its verdant fields, nourish- ing the hopes, feeding the ambi- tions, quickening the energies and blessing the hearts of the people.
 This is truly the land of sun shine. The king of the day rarely ever hides his benignant face, but smiles and smiles as if heaven were peculiarly pleased with this goodly land. We sometimes think it was this vale which met the gaze of the Creator when he looked upon his work and pro- nounced 1t good" Casting his eyes down the vista of coming years he saw the country peopled with men and women who were mighty instruments in the estab- lishment of his kingdom upon earth; and he said, "Let there be lighti" and the rays of the cen tral orb kissed the soil of our now favored valley with that magnifi- cent efulgenee that shall beautify and bless it forever. Glorious, radiant, sun-shiny Nile-land of Arizona, baptized with light as brilliant as heavens inner glory and favored with heavens choicest benedictiop. NEpHL.
 Thatcher, January 2Sth.
 Ben Small, the leading dealer of Fl Paso in his line, ad-