Graham guardian., 1901-04-12
BISBEE.
ArIzona's Great Mining Camp, with Its
Surroundings.
(By ]. NJ. Erskine.l
Special Correspondence to the GUARDIAN.

Special Correspondence to the GUARDIAN.
Most of the GUARDIAN readers
are probably very much in the
dark rs to the situation Of Bisbee,
what it is and of it's future, also
where is Douglas, the new city
just being founded, and why it is
so much spoken about at the
present time, and many thoughts
similar, and So, in as few words
as possible, will try to give the
facts about this country.
After taking the train at Ben
son on the A. & S. E. R'y., for
about 35 miles through a barren
desolate country all the way,
excepting a small valley settled
up by some Mormon families about
6 miles out from Benson. When
the train stopped at Naco junction
and looking down and off to the
south 4 miles you see the little
city of Naco on the east foot hills
of small mountain; the track has
been layed to Naco but no trains
are being run, and should you de-
sire to go to Naco or Cananeas,
Mexico, which is some 40 miles
almost directly south, you take the
stage at this point.
After leaving the junction, in 2
miles Don Luie is reached, this
is the junction for the road going
to the new town of Douglas, which
is about Il miles further east and
is directly on the line between the
United States and Mexico and on
what is called White River; then
the train starts up again with
much putting, for the grade now
going on up the canyon to Bisbee,
is very heavy.
Bisbee is situated in a long mar
row canyon, there being scarcely
room enough for what would be
called a good country wagon road,
hence the reader can well imagine
the narrow crooked street running
on up the gulch, for the town must
be fully l IL miles long, aud on
each side of this narrow street is
to be found the few stores and
many saloons. The Copper Queen
Consolidated Mining Cos. store
stands on q level shelf partially
made by filling in. The company
store is a very large concern as
one would naturally imagine it
would be by their controlling the
trade of at least 1000 men work
ing for them. The trade is done
by the usual "pass-book" system
and by this system, every night,
the days work is credited upon
The pass-book and the workman or
his family can trade out the
amount opposite. Some complain
at the exorbitant prices charged, but
the writer could not see where any
excessive charges were made. The
salaries and other expenses are
great AMI from a stand point of the
east, why Of course prices are
higher, but by the passbook com
pany system, one can arrive in
Bisbee broke, work one day and |
get trade or board and Of course,
controlling the trade and doing |
such large business, why their
profits are great
Across from the store is large |
library building with large room
for men to sit, and in addition can
get an assortment of books from
well filled shelves. The library
would put the Ell Paso library to
shame. Near these buildings are
the general offices of the company;
then along the mountain sides
come the residences built i'll ter.
rices and the paths leading to the
different localities are zig gag,
back and forth, here and there,
perhaps steps for fifty feet or so,
and as one looks up, houses can be
seen high up on the mountain
sides. Here, as in this country in
general, the borro, (Rocky Noun
tain Canary is more useful, for in
addition of packing wood, mer-l