, 1892-07-30
THEY PAID THE TAX.

About twenty years ago when Governor
A. R. Shepherd, Of Washington City, was
trying to improve the national capital and
make it the grandest city in the world
which he eventually succeeded in doing
he was met with all kinds of opposition.
The principal thing was the non-payment
of grade tax. The richest man in the city,
who owned the greatest number of houses
and unimproved real estate, refused to pay
a cent of his assessments until he was com
PEELED to do so by the courts. This was
the late William w. Corcoran. Shepherd
kept steadily on in his work, notwithstand-
ing three congressional investigations
which failed to prove that he was dishon-
est, together with the petty annoyances of
of rich property owners who wanted to get
all the benefits of vast improvements by
paying very little for them. The real es-
tate of the Objectors has brought fabulous
sums since the first improvements were
completed and instead of maledictions up-
on the head of "Boss" Shepherd, monu-
ments are now talked of. Shepherd
left Washington poor man 13
years ago and now lives 25OO
feet above sea level in Batopilas, province
of chihuahua, Mexico The only ways to
get there are on the hurricane deck of a
mule, by balloon, or by flying machines,
for the camp is hid in the very heart of the
largest of the huge mountains of Mexico
The scenery is grander than that of the
Northern Alps. The Chicago Inter- Ocean
of last Sunday contained an interesting IL
lustrated article on Governor Shepherds
work in Mexico, where he has taken out of
the silver mines of which he has charge.
$6,5OO,OOO worth of silver. All the ores
are worked at the mill in the hacienda, the
home of Governor Shepherd. The cores
pondent says;
Words cannot express our appreciation
OF the kindness of our reception or how de-
hghtful it is to sit down at the table with
the governor and his charming wife and
daughter and talk estates talk, " for thew
all keep in close touch with politics, litera-
ture and art. After having listened to the
personal abuse poured out upon the gov
ernor by petty politicians at Washington,
can not help wishing that some of them
could be taken by the back of the neck and
rolled down into this canyon, and given a
chance to become acquainted with one of
natures nOblemen, a kind-hearted and
courteous gentleman-one who was only
too glad to get out of tine boil and turmoil.
the trials and vexatiOns of political life.
and build up his own home, his own king
dom in this wilderness. Here is a ruler
living in his own castle like
baron of old and at the same time
leader who is doing a grand educational
work in teaching the Mexican race how to
mine. The governor has lost none of his
keen powers Of observation or caustic criti-
clsm. lie is the same staunch friend and
fearless opponent that he was in Washing
ton. He retains in full all of his remark
able vitality, energy, aud executive ability,
and looks but little older than he did ten
years ago. A giant mentally and physic-
ally among the degenerate descendants of
the Montezumas, he is respected for his
rare and executive abilities, admired and
feared for his indomitable will and personal
courage; but above all, loved bvall who
know him in his charming home life, the
aftectiOnate loving husband and father. |
and truest of friends. There is grandeur
an atmosphere of royalty about this mans /
life that is only appreciated by those who
really know him. A born leader, a natural
general, he has conquered difficulties that
would have routed any one not possessed /
OF his magnificent fighting abilities.