The herald., 1897-08-23
Political Experiments in
Arizona
LEASING THE SCHOOL LANDS
HOW BOOM LITERATURE is
PROVIDED
The California Tourist Travel Nearly
over-Effects of Good Prices
for Cattle
snesial correspondence to The Herald.


PHOENIX, Ariz., Aug. 21.-Arizona, it
is plain. has become land of political
experimentation. Not that Arizona is to
any material degree Populistic or So
cialistic in tendency. her people being
well within the old political boundaries;
but they appear to be lacking in the at
tributes of conventionality. They seem
to have taken up the eclectic doctrine:
They reach after that which is best, re-
gardless of its name.
One lapse from the usual order, sub
ject already mentioned in this corre-
spondence. lay in the funding, under the
Endorsement of the territory, of all the
county and municipal bonds at low
rate of interest
Alsecond instance Of political expert
menting was the permission given Pres
cott in the last legislature to adopt
charter that embraced the single tax
idea the initiative and referendum and
female suffrage. Prescott now is operat-
ing under this charter and the outcome
of the test will have weight at the COM
ing legislative session. So far, it can be
stated that Prescott is now very evil
IDENTIFY enjoying the best municipal gov
ernment she has had for score of years.
LEASE OF SCHOOL LANDS
The third experiment is now progress
ing in the county of Maricopa, the most
important of the territory's subdivis-
ions, a county with about $10,O0O,OOo val
uation out of the territory's 100000 600.
The county seat is Phoenix. Within the
county, and mainly within the Salt river
L., fa,, ora
eighty sections of land contiguous to
water, if not in actual cultivation, that
have been reserved under the general
land laws for school purposes. to be
turned over to Arizona when she shall
have become a state. OF the $4,000 or
more acres of school land within the
county, about 30, 900 have been appropri-
ated for years by farmers who have
lived upon them secure from the pay
ment of all taxes on realty. They have
failed to share the burden of maintain
ing the government. From this class
Maricopa will in the future realize
large portion of her annual income.
Through an act of the last congress
Arizona has been given permission to
lease the school lands within her borders.
Maricopa county has taken the initiative
in the county has been served notice that
he has been assessed by the supervisors
an annual rental equal to a tax on his
land at its most liberal valuation. This
Is expected to bring in for the first year
something in excess of $4,000, equal to
an per cent increase in the countys
valuation. Naturally there is grumbling.
The greatest kickers are always the men
who have for years been exempted from
public charges. But the act is declared
staunch one by the best posted lawyers
and the charges will stand.
All the other counties Of the territory
will follow the lead Of Maricopa at their
next assessments.
A GOVERNORS WORK
The new Republican administration
appears to be running on smoothly; I
have heard no especial complaint, save
perhaps from those disappointed in their
wishes of policy or of appointments.
The swarm of politicians has disap-
peared, for the plums have been distrib-
uted among the faithful, and the govern
or is busy with the infinity of things with
which territorial executive is burdened
by congress and by the legislature. One
OF his occupations is that of member of
lHe pOdIQ VI COulIOl, lildl IuQS-
pass upon practically all accounts of the
public service. He is also an active
member by law of half dozen commits
sions and boards, and the only wonder
is where he finds time to sleep. AT pres
ent, in addition to all else he is engaged
In the compilation of the governors an
nual report to the secretary Of the in
terror, work which in the territories is
rJo Il tn ba IicL+ ~ vi
for booming the country. The last gov
ernor's report, issued by Governor
Franklin, was the most voluminous Of
all containing l42 closely printed pages
OF reading matter and at least fifty ex-
cellent illustrations of typical Arizona
scenes The edition, which was some
thing like 6000 was soon exhausted. Now
Governor McCord is at work with COM
mendable desire to improve upon the
literary efforts of his predecessor and
tc fully fill the void in the supply OF ter
ritorial immigration matter. He is es-
pecially interested in the development
OF the irrigation water supply and it is
understood large part of his report will
be devoted to the consideration of the
questions that arise concerning govern
mental aid toward the storage of storm
IS Il matter vital to the further progress
Of the agricultural valleys Of Arizona. III
the Salt River valley alone nearly mil
lion acres more could be titled, were
proper storage provided for the floods
that each spring carry away to the gulf
the melted SHOWS from the mountains Of
central and eastern Arizona
THE COAST EXCURSIONS
Only two more excursions are sched-
uled from Phoenix to Los An
geles this year Throughout the
heated term the Southern Pacific
and Santa Fe connections have al.er-
nately run these excursions, leaving here
Thursdays The fare, including trips
to Santa Barbara or San Diego has been
only s25, rate that has enabled many to
experience the sea breezes of the south
ern coast, and has caused a material in
crease In the summer business of your
city There has been interesting dis
cussion over the financial interest of the
Angeleno in the Arizonan The dec!-
sion has been arrived at by the calcula-
tion that Los Angeles each summer gets
fully $3.50, 900 in Arizona coin, fully hall
the amount coming from Phoenix. This