Arizona republican., 1899-03-31
THE STORY OF TUCSON
By F.. J. Trippel.

By far the oldest city in Arizona
 or for that matter in the United States
 -is the Ancient and Honorable
 Pueblo by the Santa Cruz.
 Tucson, founded about the year 1555, as is proven by the ancient records re-
 gently discovered among the archives
 of the San Xavier cathedral, was
 Jesuit settlement long before the in stitution of San Augustine in 1895, and
 Santa Fe in 1905. and in consequence,
 is entitled to the honor of being the
 mother of cities so far as the United
 States are concerned.
 The trials of the Catholic padres,
 surrounded as they were by dangers
 and almost insuImountable obstacles of every character, make an interesting story too long tC be told here. At the
 same time the charm of antiquity, tinged though it may be, by the inno
 vations of modern civilization, is with it still The Spanish adobe architect ure, demonstrated by experience to be the most suitable for the prevailing climatic conditions, is prevalent to an extent greater, perhaps, than in other Arizona cities of it's size. Yet Tucson
 has very many handsome modern dwellings, and business houses of stone and brick. which contrast strangely with the low but comfortable struct- ures of sun-baked brick. In them is blended the romance of the past and the realistic conditions of the present.
 Containing less than 10000 inhabi- tants the ancient city does an enor- nous business annually with the sur rounding counties and the state of SO nora, Mexico. Its mercantile institu tions are among the largest and most important in the territory. Owing to its enviable standing as a leash" town, due to the fact that it is the commer- cial center of important mining, cattle and railroad interests it's prosperity is unques.tioned. EtscCunting their bills and purchasing in large quantities the merchants are enabled to sell at prices which compare favorably with the rates prevailing in much larger places.
 The past three years have shown a steady and marked advance in the con- struction of modern buildings, partic- u.arly in the matter of business blocks and tasteful dwellings. Upper Con- gress street, a wide and handsome thorOughfare has been lined with brick and stone structures, the major ity of them containing two stories and basement, and all new and in strict conformity with the requirements of the times. The demand for such build ings is greater than the supply and each is engaged long prior to it's com- pletiOn. An excellent indication of the financial condition of the town itself is the fact that all realty improve ments are based strictly upon home capital, which appears to be beth plen- tiful and cheap.
 Hundreds of pretty dwellings, built by the two building and loan associa- tions, have been erected, so that entire new blocks have sprung into existence, necesSitating a street car SerVice-an innovation unthought of by the Tue sonian five years ago.
 The Southern Pacific railroad com pany has extensive repair shops and in Tucson, second only in importance to the shops at Sacramento, ] and necessitating the employment of a large force of men. Between $35, ,000 | and $50,000 in wages are paid every month, nearly every dollar of which remains in the town. Tucson is pre- eminently commercial center, the country, owing to it's topography and lack of irrigating ca- nals, being far from agricultural in it's nature. The cattle industry, large and | rapidly growing, is most important, | and a prominent factor, since the re- suits of the heavy annual trades are | directly to her financial betterment | She is as well the base of supplies for the numerous mining camps scattered | through southern Arizona.
 One of her conspicuous manufactur- ing enterprises is the immense four l story f1ouIing mill, which, from mod est beginning, has sprung into one of the largest concerns in the west. A curious feature, and one scarcely cred | ible were it not strictly true. vests in the proposition that these mills four lsh in d locality where very little if any wheat is grown. In the beginning the company procured it's raw wheat from California and despite the cost Of were able to manufac ture it into the finest flour and reship at profit to outside points. At pres ent, however, the principal supply comes from the Salt River valley and Pinal county.
 An illustration of the financial con lition of the town is the work recently by various fraternal sO- ;ieties. The A. o. U. W. lodge owns a magnificent brick block on principal business street. which yields a month y rental of $499~and upwards. The 3. P. o. Elis are Constructing a fine ,hree-story brick building to be de- voted entirely to the uses of the so- iety, which twill cost, with the grounN