Arizona republican., 1897-09-12
TUCSON, PIMA COUNTY.
The Ancient Pueblo Enjoying 8 Sea
 son of Prosperity.

Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 10-(Special correspondence of The Republican.)- In a recent letter your correspondent simply introduced himself to this city, expressing qualification in find ing so much in the line of prosperity I promised to tell why Tucsonians feel in particularly good frame of mind. First Tucson llas a building boom and secondly is content in the knowledge that this is the most inn portant division point cn the South ern Pacific, between Fl Paso and Los Angeles. This fact was confirmed in an interview with Assistant Superinr i tendent Seabert, who is acting super intendent in the absence of Col. tEpes Randolph.
 AS to the population of /Tucscn there seems to be diversity}of opin- ion. One person gave it out lat Il 900. another 5000 and a published bulletin ! puts it at 1000. The first Anust be a boomers notion, so we wilI accept the middle figures 5000. m town is solidly built in the old dis trict, almost wholly of adobe, often two stories in height. Main street, down towards the Santa Cruz flats, was the principal street in early years, Zeckendor's big establishments and the New Orn- dorff hotel are Occupying the most prominence in tHat locality today. A foundaf1on so1oH of the Orndorff was laid seve1 ears ago in anticipation Of locati big hotel, but nothing but the Underground stone wall re- mains; yers street was for a time 1 -iY iY,cr ct, south from Congress and lying a block east of Main. The Occidental, a landmark, is one of the mainstays of this thoroughfare and will remain so while George Sutherland is at the helm. Congress street, running from Main due east to the depot, is now the business avenue. Business has a tendency to move towards the s. P. depot. Stone avenue is a promising street. Though the avenue is of good width, the cathedral and Episcopal church on the south will affect the prospects in that direction. North ward the outlook is better for busi- ness openings. The removal of the wedge, west of Stone avenue, and fac ing Maiden Lane on the north. Con- gress south and Court street west. will mean the widening of Congress street for distance of 3SO feet. It means. too. that Maiden Lane side will be transformed from one story adobes to two and three story business blocks. while on the Congress street front opposite, very important changes will be effected involving as a whole s1OO.- 900 in new business structures. The Pierson block, built some years ago. has deteriorated in value owing to the fact that it is located in close quar- ters on Congress and Court streeSs, though in a central locality The pro- posed changes contemplated, in view of the removal of the wedge, which. though fully occupied and paying good rental for cheap adobes, will bring the Pierson up to better value and cause increased values in all proper ties according to their relation to Congress street. Enough for the pres ent in the nature of an introduction. Assistant Superintendent Seabert in response to number of questions, said that Tucson was the largest ship ping point on the line of the S. P. between Fl Paso and Los Angeles. The pay roll of the local office shows fully 400 men under employment on the machinery, track maintenances and motive departments, all of whom contribute largely to the S45,000 paid out here monthly, to the support of the business interests of the city.
 The shipments of machinery of late