Arizona republican., 1897-09-23
THE YAVAPAI BONDS.
MT. Ross Opens the Gate for Ancient
 History.

The Prescott Courier of the other day was principally filled with a post fumous letter by District Attorney H. D. Ross of Yavapai county. The word posthumous is herein improp- erly used, for it is only applicable to matter whereof the author it dead. In this case the subject was extinct and MT. Ross is always as good as dead.
 Mir. Ross was writing about the funding of the P. & A. C. bonds, which in his excitement and general ineom- petence he called the Arizona Central bonds. MT Ross Courier letter con- ~snted of a prayer and an objurgation. / The bonds, he said, were invalid, but ! his statement was not .substantiated He asked that the matter be left to the arbitrament of the courts, and he tried to point out wherein the terri torial loan commission was without Jurisdiction.
 The letter was followed by post script of the feminine sort much longer than the letter itself. Mr. Ross had learned that during his in- terminable construction of the letter the bonds had been already funded. The sun, the moon and the loan com mission could not stand still while the Joshua of Yavapai county was writ ing a letter. The postscript was di- rected chiefly at Secretary Akers, who i5 charged with ingratitude toward Yavapai county because he having held office eight years in that county, had as a member of the loan com mission consented to the funding ot the P. & A. c. bonds. The accusation is an assumption that the debt was in- valid and so the doors eff history are thrown open.
 In 1892 Hon. John c. Herndon ad- V1sed the then board that the debt was valid and their validity remained unquestioned until a year ago. At that time the board of supervisors consisted of Messrs. Woods, Smith and Roach. MT. Akers was clerk oi ahe board. The matter of the bonds came up, having been stimulated by the recent extension of the funding Aet, and the board addressed a re- quest to the loan commission for the Idndlng of the bonds. Smith and Hoach voted for fthe request and Woods against it. This was early in Aecember MT. Ross, then district alLorney-elect, appeared before the board In the matter of the bonds Here was an opportunity to make nlmself solid with taxpayers. The ponds, he said, were invalid and ought not to be funded. Woods, who had afWays believed so agreed with him HoacR, who had voted for the reouest 70 dund the bonds, had been friendly DO the funding because he had he. ~ieved their redemption rnavoid- aDfe-' He was therefore susceptible tr conversion. It was an unjust debt. he Said, but he believed it would have 10 be paid. Ross said it need not be pard. Roach asked him if he was surf or It and if he would undertake tc defend the county without subiectine IL to any expense. Ross said enthusi. astIcally that it wouldn't cost the county cent; he would inject him. seH into the breach. Upon this brave assurance Ross voted with Woods te Tesclnd the request to the loan com mission to fund the bonds.
 When the new board took its seal almost the first official act of MT Ross, who entered into office simul. taHeously, was to ask assistance i1 lighting the P. & A. C. bonds. Ht admitted that he was unable to COD: with the subject by his lone self. not w1thstanding he had assured MT Roach of his capability.
 -a1Thezzboard employed Melssrs. Hern @ don and Norris to help him If the . bonds were defeated in the territoriai court Messrs. Herndon and Norri: were to receive $14,000 If not they were to receive s7,O00, and the carry ing of the contest to the supreme court of the United States was to b, made subject to an extension of tn, contract. It is said that MT. Ross help have received the most of tn, $7,00O contracted and that in conse