The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-02-23

THE ARIZONA TRAVELLER.
the hills to some mines, so | stopped off at
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 out 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 do?"
81 broke road IS miles up the mountain,
the driver walking after me. 1t 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 2l0 miles, and I'd have been
walking yet if l hadn't struck this stage
line at Globe"
You were well armed. Had you any
use for your waapons?"
They are mighty handy to have round
and man couldn't travel far in Arizona
without 'em. Two Mexicans meant to hold
me up on the road 1t was dark, and they
dog in my hand, - and he pulled pistol,
with shining barrel, from his belt 81
said: Hello, here! What are you fellows
looking for-ballast Qead)? And they drop
ped out of sight"
81 thought Arizona was over those things,
now she's posing for statehood"
'Oh, no. Arzona's little eccentric vet.
don't 20 in on that statehood racket. A
nv We m val nv hr,o Il. hoo md
and stage and where layout of this sort is
the biggest town in it-claims 5000, but
can't shove out 5000 on show down
would make 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
bis 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
sll they could from the territory, and if
they don't make her a state soon they'll
have toquit. It's a fight for life, and they're
stalking everything to win. They have got
the drop on this part of the country. Up
north people tell different story. Go out
among the hasiarpas (ranchers), and they'll
tell you they don't want it to be state
They have to rustic now to pay taxes
Didn't you know this territory was busted?
Two million six hundred Thousand dollars
in debt and only SOS, 600 600 worth of tax
able property. That's over 500 on a man.
including the Mexicans, who haven't got
that much property and never viii have"
What has reduced territory that is a
government charge to this pass?"
''EXtravagant territorial legislation and
Doodle contracts. Now the people are taxed
3 per cent 10 pay interest on the public
debt"
why don't they appeal to congress for
help"
That would expose the rotten financial
condition of the territory and spoil the
chance of being a state. If they make Ari-
sona state now, the taxes viii be 50 high
that they shut out immigration and CAPT
tall
The statehood agitators say if the bin
passes there will be great drains and canals
gut in to irrigate the desert
They had better go to work and build
'em now. lt'l be time TO ask for a state
when they've got those things in opera
hon, for, all told, Arizona has only G50, GOO
Rcres that will ever be cultivated, and she'll
heed all that TO tax to keep up state
government. l have been in the cattle
business for 10 years and have ridden in the
saddle all over Nevada aud Arizona ]
have watched the falling off in population
and wealth in Nevada for the last 10 years
and have seen the same thing take place in
Arizona. Why, in 1888 Arizona had "A tax
able valuation of 600, which has
khrunk one-third. In 1890 the population
was $4,000. Now ii is about 10000 Eleven
thousand Of that are Mexicans and 200
Are Chinese
W hat Is the cause of thiSf"
Drought on cattle ranges and overstock-
Ing and the slump in silver. Ii only pro
duced $4,000 in silver bullion and 81 .0s2.-
uto IN gold last year. But ii 5 treason TO
tell these things round here. Every man is
gagged. If any of those gambling house
politicians should hear me, he might nut
up job on me.
Nv hat is that's
My, get some one TO pick 4 quarrel
with me, then jump on me for asserting my
rights, and II pull a gun to protect myself
the other fellow will shoot me down claim
Ing he did il in self defense That's how
they get rid OF man they don't want II,
Arizona. Wouldn't think such fellows ar,
the most religious round here, would yous
Fact. They're about the ,niy ones that be
Geve in future state.
But it is a beautiful county where cult
eated-much too beautiful for the abode Of
Etrife and murder. Under these palms and
pepper trees, in these rose gardens in win
ter bloom, peace and contentment should
awell."
Eyes, you think so, but they don't. II Is
beautiful country as far as thar is con
cerned, but it needs honest folks and new
blood. The old timers, the hasiampas. are
keeping it back
y thought they wanted people TO come in
and develop the country"
..Na. air. Not those fellows The other