Arizona republican., 1901-12-02

assertion that the principal towns and
 mining camps of the territory this autumn are buying 40 per cent more goods in his line than they did last year. And an extensive dealer in sad dlery, hardware and leather commodi- ties has been heard to say that Arizona orders received by his house during October and so far in November exceed those filled in the corresponding months of last year in the ratio of seven to one, both in number and quan- tity. The collections, too, are most satisfactory. This presents very en- couraging condition of things to all the jobbers in this city, who unitedly, and with good reason, regard Arizona their own territory for the purposes of trade.
 Turning from these evidences of the prosperity of Arizona to the summary of Governor Murphys report to the secretary of the interior. contained in the secretary's report to the president, ample proof is found that this territory has more to show for itself than have many of the states in realized wealth and general growth. The assessed val uation of property has increased nearly S6.00o,Oo0 during the year..
 The population is estimated at fully 135, ,000. This estimate exceeds the probable results of the late census, but the fault is chargeable to the enumera- tors, as is made clear by the proved injustice they did to a number of towns, and in particular to Phoenix in placing the population at 5,544. The enuniera tion was made in the summer, when large proportion of the inhabi- tants were in California. It also is true that a large part of the town is not included within the city limits. The city election in May, 1901, was held on registry of 2,317 voters, indi- eating a population of 10000 or more. The school census bears out the same conclusion. The government census Is said to have returned a population of 92. 1903. in which there are found 22, 395 persons of foreign birth. Governor Murphy objects to these being chased mostly as MeXicans. and says that the mining districts contain a large num- Der of Irish and Cornish delivers. and that there is a fair representation from Sweden, Germany and Italy.
 Here is an important item in the gov ernor's report: The quality of Ari- zona citizenship is of the highest char acter; the population is typically and the percentage of illit- eracy is smaller than in any state in
 
 liberal and comprehensive, and educa- tion is free throughout all the grades to and including the university" Here follow a number of interesting par ticulars- There are 23,503 children of school age in the territory, an increase of 2,610 since 1900. There are 270 school districts. an increase of twenty-three for the year. Within the last twelve months new school houses in the num- Der of eighteen have been constructed. There are 43G teachers employed an increase of fortyone for the year. Of the total number of teachers 315 are women. The average remuneration for male teachers is SS0.61 a month: for women teachers, S64. SO The total | value of school buildings and furniture | is S553, 1S1. The total bonded debt for l school purposes is S257.TS7. The terri | torial university is we'll attended and | has an excellent faculty. There are two normal schools for the training of | teachers. where the requirements for l graduation are high and rigid. The ! total of the state debt is but a little ! more than million dollars, incurred l largely by the building of the capitol.
 The assessed valuation Of the taxable | property is s3S. .s53 S3137. But Governor Murphy complains that a vast amount | of personal property escapes taxation, | owing to faulty methods of assessment; | that by reason of the custom of as- sessing at a nominal valuation produc- ing mines which are worth many mil | lions of dollars, as well as on account | 0f the uniformly low valuations placed | upon many classes of property by the | county assessors, the total assessed | valuation falls far short of the actual | value of the property which is subject | 10 taxation" He cites instances where ] single mines are worth as much as the assessed value of all the property in he territory. Besides, there are 5O6 | miles of railroad exempt from taxation lnder special territorial enactments for l term of years.