The copper era., 1901-03-14
Trap Shooting Contest.


had a good chance to win, but Morris
and Elliott had cold feet and their low
scores lost the match by nine birds.
| The Clifton club was somewhat weak
ened by the absence OF Gus Williams,
who is laid up with the grip, but his
substitute, Joe Heron, did very well
for a new man. After the match, the
party adjourned 10 the quarters OF the
G.. +. VI. Mess, where stand-up lunch
was served, after which the balance OF
the day was spent in shooting sweep
stakes. We understand that the visit
ing team found this TO be a good propo-
sitiOn. The scores were: Morenci, 80;
Clifton, sc.
J That class OF individ uals to be found
in mining camps generally known as
! boarding house Jumpers" may learn
salutary lesson from the experience
Of two young men who undertook to
beat J. &. Smith, proprietor OF the
| American Hotel out of small board
I bills. Failing to show up at breakfast
on Friday last, Mr.. Smith became sus-
picious and upon making inquiries
1 learned that his two late boarders had
left for parts unknown, taking with
them all their personal effects, consist
| ing of u horse and their blankets. Pro
viding himself with papers from the
! Justices court, and being deputized us
an officer. he secured a good horse,
/ prepared to follow them to Solomon
| vile, or the coast il necessary, and cap
/ lure them. He followed their trail
but did not camp on il, for when on a
/ mission of that kind he does not camp,
| nut ni;s The trail only in high places.
/ At Coronado he learned that one of
them was travelling towards the ella
valley in wagon with two MeXicans.
Some distance from the station he
overlook the wagon, but his man was
not in sight and the Mexicans dis
claimed any knowledge of his where
abouts. In the trail wagon, covered
up and concealed from view. the young
man was found and rudely awakened
from his dream of conscious security.
His salutation was; Hello, Smith.
You did not think | was going to beat
you, did your ''Of course not" said
Smith, but shell out or go with me to
Cliftonw The bill was promptly paid
ana few dollars in addition for ex-
pcnses. and Smith rode on To reach
Stafford before the young man in the
wagon could communicate with his
confederate He failed to catch the
other one but came into possession of
horse belonging to him, which is now
in Clifton awaiting judicial proceed
ings, and will be sold to satisfy the
board bill and costs. Left afoOt IL the
valley the young man no doubt realizes
that 1.-THE way of the transgressor is
hard" Mr.. Smith returned home
Monday after an absence of three
days, satisfied with his trip, which
was hard one and pot altogether
profitable, but full of satisfaction.
Board bill jumpers should take warn
ing from the experience of these Young
men. whose names are withheld from
publication through kindness.
Now that the question of county di.
vision has been temporarily settled it
would be well for the business men Of
Clifton to look well to the advancement
OF the business interest of the town.
The most important matter in this con-
nection is the building of wagon roads,
which will prove good feeders to the
town. The building OF good wagon
road to the Mule Springs country in
New Mexico would throw n vast vol
ume of new business into Clifton. This
road could be quickly and cheaply
built and the people from the other
side of the range would only be too
glad to contribute towards its cons:ruc-
tion. In fact they are more anxious
for the construction OF this road than
are the people of Clifton. This is not
only their nearest, but also most decid-
ly their best market for everything
they produce. 1t is almost the exclu-
sive market for their cattle and sheep,
/ for which they carry away much money
aud then are compelled to go to Silver
! City to do their trading. With "a good
wagon road to Mule Springs their BUSH
ness would be secured Ia Clifton for all
| time to come. In fact the business of
the entire upper ella valley could most
probably be secured for the reason that
| the farmers of that section would soon
avail themselves of the new market
opened for their produce. Scarcely a
week passes but wagons loaded with
apples and other produce from Lone
+ Mountain and the Mimbres valley make
their appearance here and dispose Of
/ their wares. These localities are far
beyond Silver City, and in order TO
come here they must pass directly
through Silver City. They would not
come here II did not pay them to do so.
/ Therefore, with u direct wagon road to
the upper ella valley, which is from
thirty To forty miles this side of Silver,
1t is only reasonable to suppose that
| Clifton would soon control the entire
trade of that section. Our business
men should get together, appoint IA
committee to view the proposed road
and then raise the money necessary for
the building OF the road.
On the evening of February 18th a
| farewell social was held at the home of
MIR. and Mrs. James 5. Cromb in North
/ aN1 IL. ]