The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-02-26


Congress and went up into the Bradshaws
Me and the driver made up the outfit
When we got into the hills, blizzard
struck us that would have knocked ont Da-
kota. Then one Of the horses got funny
and had the blind staggers. The other
horse couldn't hold him in the road and
soon played out, so we had to abandon
'em"
"What did You dor"
Il broke road 10 miles up the mountain,
the driver walking after me. IL was grow
ing dark when we came TO an emigrant
wagon camped in the shelter Of a rock for
the night. The woman was cooking sup
per over a big fire. We got warm, ate sup
per, and rolled up in my blanket and slept
under the wagon. Since we left those horses
I've walked 30 miles and I'd have been
walking yet II hadn't struck this stage
line at Globe"
you we're we'll armed. Had you any
use for your weaponsf"
They are mighty handy 60 have round
and a man couldn't travel far in Arizona
without 'em. Two Mexicans meant to hold
me up on the road. IL was dark, and they
came up each side of me. / had this bull
dog in my hand, and he pulled pistol
with a shining barrel, from his belt. IL
said: Hello, herel What are you fellows
looking for-ballast Qead)Y And they drop
ped out Of sight"
Thought Arizona was over those things,
now she's posing for statehood"
"Oh, no. Arizona's little eccentric yet.
don't 20 in on that statehood racket. A
country you've got to travel by buck board
and stage and where "A layout OF this sort Is
the biggest town in it-claims 5000, but
can't shove out 5000 on a show down
would make a mighty weak state"
"But the people want IT,"
Not much. It's the politicians that's
backing this statehood proposition"
In the earnestness Of his feeling he took
his cigar from his mouth and hurled it into
the street and continued; Those fellows
are heavily IN debt. They calculate Arizo-
mas got TO help them out. They've stolen
all they could from the territory, and il
they don't make her a state soon they'll
have toquit. It's fight for life, and they re
stalking everything 20 win. They have got
the drop on this part of the country. Up
north people tell different story. Go out
among tue hasiampas (ranchers). and they'll
tell you they don't want IL TO be a state
They have To rustic now TO pay taxes.
Didn't you know this territory was bustedf
Two million six hundred thousand dollars
in debt and only l2s,o0o,oo0 worth of tax
able property. That's over 500 on a man,
including the MeXicaus, who haven't got
that much property aud never will have"
Nv bat ha- reduced territory that is "A
government charge 20 this passs'
"ENtravaguut territorial legislation ana
Doodle contracts Now the people are taxed
3per cent TO pay interest ON the public
debt"
why don't they appeal TO congress for
helpf"
THAT would expose the rotten financial
condition Of the territory aud spoil the
chance OF being "a state. II they make Ari-
zona a state now, the taxes will bee so high
that they u shut out immigration and CAPT
tai"
'The statehood agtators say II the bill
passes there will be great drains aud canals
put in 20 irrigate the desert"
They bad better go 90 work and build
'em now. ltN be time to nsk Tor n state
when they've got those things In opera
ton, for, all told, Arizona has only $50 0OO
acres that will ever be- cultivated. aud she'll
need all that TO tax 90 keep up state
government. / have been ina the cattle
business for ID years and have ridden In the
saddle all over Nevada aud Arizona. !
have watched the falling Oh In population
and wealth In Nevada for the last 10 years
and have seen the same thing take place In
AAAAhiA ~ ANr lA 1870 4AtA.Iflt- ilNA "A tiiA
able valuatioa Of S36.OOOOOO, which has
shrunk one-tLird. In 1890 the population
was 5000 Now il il about 5000. Eleven
thousand Of that are Mexicaus, and 30
are Chinese
What Is the cause Of thisf"
Drought on cattle ranges and overstock-
ing and the slump In silver IL only pro
duced t22i GO la silver bullion and 81 ,OS2.-
900 Ia gold last year. liut It's treason To
tell these things round here. Every man j.
gagged II any II those gambling house
politicians should hear me. be mi6ht put
up a job ON me-"
w hat Is thatfn
Why, get some one 10 pick n quarrel
with me, then jump ON me for asserting my
rights. and II pull gun 90 prutec. myself
the other fellow will shoot me down, claim
ing he did Il In self defense That's how
they get rad Of a man they don't want In
Arizona. Wouldn't think such fellows arr
the most religions round bc.e. would your
Pact. They're about i.e only ones that be
lieve IN future state"
But It lisa beautiful county where cultl-
Vated-much too beautiful Tor the abode Of