Arizona weekly citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Ariz) 1880-1901, 1893-12-09
FLORENCE.
A Town With Latent
Greatness.
T I N E r EGI0N ABOUT.
Where Crops Grow, Cattle Fat
ten and Living is
Cheap.
FLORENCE.
F I N E EGI0N ABOUT.

Florence is enc of the prettiest
little towns in the territory, 1t is slow
of growth but there is stability about
its buildings that betokens confidence
in its future. Within the next few
years it's highly probable the whistle
of the locomotive will be heard in the
valley and rapid strides OF progress be
everywhere seen.
With the writer Florence has ever
been a favorite town and each reoc-
curing visit still further impresses
the visitor with it's slumbering great
ness. Times may be dull, money scarce
and hard to get but the husbandman
is abroad, crops grow, cattle fatten and
living is cheap.
The first inquiry made by intending
settlers is in tie direction OF educational
interest. In this respect no town in the
territory has better school house. 1t
is a wood q structure but is large. COM
modious and well equipped with educa-
tional appliances. 1t has en- excellent
corps of teachers and large patronage
from the town and immediate country.
In the matter Of churches the town
quite recently suffered severe loss in
the destruction of the Catholic edifice,
a fine brick building by fire few
months since. Another church will
probably be built in the immediate
future, The Rev. Father Walruzel. a
very pleasant and agreeable gentleman
attends to the spiritual wants of his
Pensioners. The protestant members of
the community worship in substantial
but less preten:ious building. Rev. l..
Il. Whittemore a contentious and
painstaking gentleman is the pastor in
charge.
The court house is built OF brick and
is the pride OF the county. 1t was
built by contract, but there were no fat
takes in the price. 1t coat $4,000 and
archltecturally is a beauty. For light
and the convenience Of of it's inmates it
Is without an equal in Arizona. 1t Is go
built that every Office can be flooded
with light and Its court room is a gem.
The Jail is situated on the east side and
Is the only portion in which improve
ment on the building could possibly be
made. 10 this division safety rather
than comfort has been considered. In
the lower story the sheriff, supervisors,
treasurer and probate judge have Offices.
On the second floor the court room and
the offices of the county recorder, the
district attorney, clerk of the court and
county surveyor are 70 be found.
In the matter of business the town is
we'll supplied. 1t has several general
merchandise stores, groceries, agricul-
tural implements, drug, furniture and
notion stores. There ara several order
ly and we'll kept saloons, meat markets,
livery and feed stables, lodging houses
and restaurant. Nearly every branch
of mercantile industry is represented
and stocks carried sufficient to meet the
wants of the country.
About six weeks since the town suf-
fered the loss of it's hotel by fire and for
the time being the loss seemed almost
irreparable, but its proprietor, Robert
Williams, immediately secured another
building, extensively altered, plastered,
papered and furnishedit within month.
On November Il, st thu Williams house
again opened, and for clean, comforta-
table beds and we'll supplied table 1t
is not surpassed by any interior town 10
the territory. Mr.. Williams is an old
time Boniface in whom the traveller finds
a hearty welcome and a hospitable
home.
Brick as building material is large
iy replacing the old time adobe and the
buildings erected within the past sever
al years are of that material and have a
solid come to stay appearance about
them. The new hotel which is coon 10
rise from the ashes of the old one will
also be OF brick and p omlses to be quite
an imposing affair.
But ore paper is published in the
town, the Florence Tribune. 1t is
owned by stock company and edited
by Mr.. Geo. F. Meek, an old and we'll
known newspaper man. Ii Is devoted to
the interests of the town and county
and is deserving of liberal patronage.
1t is Independent in politi g, but with
republican leaning, and has
the merit of calling white white and
black b ack, a franknsss not at all COM
mon 10 Arizona journalism. Editor
Meek has an abiding faith in the future
Of the town a; does yoeman work in its
behalf.
The drug store and the pcs Office &C.
eupy the same building. The former is
over by Mr.. c. w. French and
he latter by - Carpenter, who is a
general fayorits with his patrons, the
ublic. Mr.. FIR, nch, to whom the Girl |
ZEN req ress ntatIve is indebted for many
uTt~sies, Is a young man of high pro-
es%i1nal attainment, and is blessed with |
Ii is.imaole lady fer wife. His store
g the My one Of its kind in tbs county |
md is worthy of the extensive patron
.ge IL receives.
There ara III ca secret riders in the |
Gwi, viz: The Marons, WuIkmen and |
] Sod Templars. Al are in q flourish |
ng Ger diijon and tie attendance is said |
o Co tee largest in Arjz-na for a town /
# Its size 1t has militia company the |
,ers ,nnel Of whict, is said TO be equal to
ny in the more pretentlous towns.
Pinal coun v is fortunate In the seiec-
ion of her county officers. The super
isors 70 Mes-rs. c.. II. Strattou, Dan
Steven and G. G. Bennett, Jose NJ. Ochoa,
lsrk. l.. x. DraiS is sheriff VII b HiDs0n
thomas as his efficient deputy. II. V.
ackeo3, q strict attorney: G. +. Palmer.
ose NJ. Ochoa, county recorder; A. II.
'Olton, COUNTY survey r, md last but
ot least, Hon. Tom Weeden, clerk Of
re district and U. S.. courts. All are
ract cal business men and administer
ha affairs of the county energetically,
ard econ 5mIcaly.
The legal fraternity is we'll represent
d. Judge III. B. Sumner is the veteran
emocra,ic bdrrister; ". r. Stone is also
n oil resident. Under his Leadership
ne republicans of the coun y have re-
eatedly marched to victory. III. V.
acksr n, the present district attorney,
ea6s the democFatic forces and wss
imself elected by large majority. Mr..
bran HUMPHREYS although practically
new conner to the town, is young
ian with bright aud interesting future
fore him.