The evening times., 1899-05-27
A Town DIVIDED
BY TWO REPUBLICS
Nogales, in Arizona, Occupying
Two Sides of the Boundary.
A City of Walnut Trees Nesting In
Valley.
Part I'm American and Part I'm MeAi-
can Territory Curious Circuni-
stances Arising From Location.
Wright, Of n
From the New York Tribune)


An odd frontier town, literally half
American and half Mexican, built as it is
on both sides of the international bounda-
~ line between Arizona and Mexico, is
Nogales-in Spanish, the walnut trees.
Nesting in a narrow valley among the
hills known as the Sierra de los Pajaritos
("Mountain ridge of the Little Birds''), No
gales is a typical, lively border town OF
about $500 inhabitants. There is the US
ual appearance of confusion-the usual
evidence Of prosperity and enterprise rub
bling elbows with poverty and shiftless-
ness Handsome buildings Of the most
modern architecture rise among the hud-
die of settlers wooden shanties and
.'adobes," and representatives of all classes
of men who flock TO Southern Arizona-the
miner the cattle-raiser. the general ira
der and many others-are to be met in the
course of walk down International
Street.
1t is the position of this highway, divid-
ing the town and running nearly east and
west, which constitutes the most peculiar
fearure OF Nogales. Just beyond the north
side of the street lies the territory of the
United States, Arizona, its buildings
reaching right up to the line, with not
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 con-
sequently Mexican. 1t may readily be i'm
agined how constant are the evasions Of
the customs duties resulting from the loca-
tion of International Street. The flourish
ing trade which goes on under the super
inteudence OF able border financiers makes
the task OF both the Mexican and United
States custom houses anything but an
easy one. The American officials are real
ly at considerable disadvantage, owing
to the fact that the street itself is entirely
in Mexico. Were it not for the kindness
and courtesy Of the Mexican officials in
granting them permission to do so, neither
the United States customs nor police off,
GERS would be able to patrol this important
highway at all.
The most interesting point about the
lodging of the customs in Nogales is that
much of il Is done in a perfectly open and
lawful way. The same mercantile estab-
lishment may have part OF its wares on
sale in one country and the remainder in
the other. rather noted case OF this kind
was that of a saloon on the United States
side Of the line. Here the customers OBJ
tanned liquors Of American make at the
usual 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 Mexican manufac
ture at the prevailing prices In that coun-
try Thus the fortunate citizens Of No
gales, both Mexicans and Americans, were
able to buy their drinks and cigars duty
free from the same prosperous establish
ment.
Within the last few weeks Nogales has
taken on a new importance for 1t has be-
come a county seat. The new county Of
Santa Cruz, an offshoot from Pima county,
has Just been created in Arizona, and the
American half of the border town has been
made the seat Of the county government.
This event has been the occasion Of great
jubilation in Nogales. On the strength Of
1t town lots are now selling at advanced
prices and a moderate building boom is
"on."
AS matter Of fact, the town is well sit
uated to become in time one OF the most
important cities in Arizona. division
station on a through railway line, it is in
the heart of a rich cattle and mineral
country, and 1t is a gateway for traffic be-
tween the United States and Mexico. A
good wagon road connects the town with
the rich Orc Blanco mining region. and
money is now being subscribed to build a
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 replace the
'adobes" with which II began.
The present Is the transitory stage for
Nogales. Both Mexicans and Americans
are working hard for its progress. The
Mexican custom house and municipal pal
ace'' are handsome structures, and the
Mexican municipal authorities have recent
ly walled the arroyo" little river, rum
ming through the town, and have thrown
across 1t two good iron bridges. The
American side OF the town is now pretty
we'll covered with cement sidewalks, and
Mexican Nogales is about to be invaded by
the same enterprising contractor and paw
ed in like fashion.
One Of Its Faults.