New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-07
A "HALF-AND-HALF' TOWN.
CURIOUS THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN NO
GALES ARIZ.
A SALOON PARTLY IN MEXICO AND PARTLY IN
THE UNITED STATES CHARAcTER-
IsTICs OF THE CITY.

An odd frontier town. literally half American
and half Mexican built as 1t Is on both SIDES OK
the international boundary line between Arizona
and Mexico is Nogales-in Spanish. 1.-THE walnut
trees" Nesting in a narrow valley among the
hills known az the Sierra de los Pajaritos
c'Mountain-ridge Of the Little Brds), No
gales is a typical. lively border town or ABOUT
thrty-ive hundred inhabitants There Is the
usual appearance OF confusion-the usual EVIL
dence of prosperity and enterprise rubbing ell
bows with poverty and shftessness. Hand
some stone buildings Of the most modern archl-
lecture rise among the hudde of settlers wooden
shanties and "adobes." and representatives, OF
all classes of men who flock to Southern Ari-
zona-the miner. the cattle-raiser the general
trader and many others are to be met In the
course OF a walk down lnternational-st.
1t is the position of this highway. dividing the
town and running nearly east and west, which
constitutes the most peculiar feature Of No
gales. Just beyond the north side of the street
lies the territory Of the United States. Arizona,
it's buildings reaching right up to the line. with
, not a foot to spare The street itself. however,
, which is fifty feet wide is entirely in the State
Of Sonora, Republic of Mexico, and all Of the
, town south of the street is consequently MeAi-
! can II may readily be imagined how constant
are the evasions of the customs duties resulting
from the location OF International-st. The
fourshing trade which goes on under the super
intendence of able border hnanciers makes the
task of both the Mexican and United States Gus
| tom-houses anything but an easy one Inc
! American officials really at considerable
! disadvantage. owing to the fact that the stree'
! itself is entirely in Mexico. Were 1t not for the
kindness and courtesy of the Mexican officials in
\
! United States customs nor police officers would
, be able to patrol this important highway at ALL
| LEGAL CUSTOMS DODGING
| The most interesting point about the lodging
OF the customs in Nogales is that much OF II IS
| done in a perfectly open ard lawful way The
| same mercantile establishment may have part
| OF it's wares on sale in one country and the re-
| mander in the other. A rather noted case OK
| this kind was that Of saloon on the United
| States side Of the line. Here the customers OBJ
| tanned liquors of American make at the usuai
| American prices Then they walked out TO the
| stand in front OF the saloon kept by the same
proprietor but situated just over the line in
| Mexico and bought cigars and tobacco OF Mexi-
can manufacture at the prevailing prices in
that country Thus the fortunate citizens OF
Nogales. both Mexicans and Americans were
|
| from the same prosperous establishment
Within the last few weeks Nogales has taken
on new Importance. for it has become a
county seat The new county of Santa Cruz. an
/ ofshoot from Pima County, has just been ere
| ated in Arizona and the American half on Che
border town has been made the seat OF the
county government. This event has been the oc-
casion for great jubilaton in Nogales. On the
strength Of it town lots are now selling at ad-
vanced prices and a moderate building boom Is
| ION" AS matter of fact, the town is well sit
uated to become in time one OF the most impor-
tant cities in Arizona A division station on a
through railway line it is in the heart Of rich
cattle and mineral country, and is a gateway
| for traffic between the United States and Mex
leo A good wagon road connects the town VITA
the rich ORC Blanco mining region. and money
IS now being subscribed to build highway to
the Cananea Mountains about fifty miles to the
| southeast where there are unusually productive
copper and silver mines. In the town. as new
buildings are put up they will gradually re-
place the "adobes" with which ii began.
TRANSFORM STAGE.
The present is the transitory stage for Mo-
gales. Both Mexicens and Americans are work.
ing hard for it's progress The Mexican custom
house and municipal palace" are handsome
structures and the Mexican municipal authori-
ties have recently walled the arroyo" little
river. running through the town, and have
; thrown across it Two good iron bridges. The
! American side OF the town is pretty well
covered with cement sidewalks. and Mexican
Nogales is about to be invaded by the same en-
terprising contractor and paved in like fashion.