Arizona republican., 1898-03-18

Arizona, and could unhesitatingly pro nounce it to be species of mineral He denied, that as the cyclopedias said, it grew twenty or thirty fet high. Mr- Clark's disquisition was interrupted by James McClintock, a disturbing ele- higher and as much as four feet in diameter Captain Evans believed that the sentiment of the community re- garding this matter had better be ob tained. A resolution passed by a very small part of the community might not be effective. He proposed the general circulation of a petition to the land office to revise it's ruling.
 But where was S. D. Lount? MT. Lount was there, but he had been oth- able assistance to the chairman, whereby it became possible to have four motions before the house simul- taneously. Some fifteen minutes be- fore MT. Lount had been seen to go to man in the audience and whisper
 
 Evans remarks that man arose and called for s. D. Lount. MT. Lount began with threat to raise the price of ice, so ominous an utterance just at the outset of the heated term, that it was alone sufficient to bring the rest of the audience to his way of thinking about the mesquite question. His ad- dress furnished so great an insight into the manufacture of ice that every man there could now run an denly be called upon to do it. Ice was discussed in the abstract and again in it's concrete or solid form Again it was looked at from a commer- cial point Of view. Finally MT. Lount sat down. It had been observed that MT. A. Redewill, who was sitting in the body of the house quietly enough at first, began to manifest symptoms of interest toward the close of Mr. Lount's frigid argument. He rose from his seat twice and sat down again, and those about him wondered what he was going to do. He ex- plained after the meeting was over that MT. Lount's remarks had suggest ed an advertising opportunity and what was mistaken for an interest in the meeting was nothing more than an excitement incident to the sparring for an opening for talk on the subject of pianos.
 A recess of five minutes was taken, during which the following resolu- tions read by George Purdy Bullard were prepared:
 Whereas, Through late ruling of the interior department, the cutting of mesquite on government land is now forbidden, the assumption being that such mesquite is to be classed as tim Der,
 Resolved, That we, the citizens of Phoenix, Arizona, in mass meeting assembled, do earnestly protest against such ruling, and in support of our protest do represent as follows:
 "1. That mesquite is not in any sense timber. It is a crooked and gnarled shrub, of semi-arid growth, of no use whatever save for fuel. This has been demonstrated in court, and our contention in this regard will be found sustained by decisions rendered in the district court in Phoenix and in the supreme court of Arizona.
 ''2 That the wood is of quick growth and that the tree, within a few years after cutting to the ground. will regain it's former size.
 "3. That mesquite, on account of it's widely spreading and life-retaining roots, must be wholly eliminated from the land before cultivation can be had, and it is therefore idle to preserve it as O. possible use to future settler or farmer.
 "4 That the enforcement of the ruling would work a serious and al most irremediabie hardship on the people of southern Arizona, who now mesquite being the only fuel to be had at less than prohibitory price.
 "It will cause the cessation Of the operation of many mines now being worked in the territory of Arizona; il will prevent the development and op- eration of many mining claims. there by crippling the mining industries of the territory at large; it will prevent the development and operation of the lime industries of the valley and many other industries; it will have a ten dency toward raising the price of commodities in the manufacture of which fuel is used and will operate solely to the benefit of few dealers in fuel, and such transportation com panles, who, if said ruling of the com missioner remains in effect will sup ply the territory with fuel from out side districts. Mines, manufactures and homes are alike dependent and would alike suffer, with absolutely no attending benefit to the public at large. As well should be considered the welfare of the hundreds of poor men who now derive their livelihood through cutting wood (mainly dead wood) on the deserts, and hauling to towns for fuel.
 "That we further represent, that while in other locations mesquite may