Arizona republican., 1901-06-14
THE TOWN OF BIsBEE
A Most Wonderful Mining Camp in
 the Mule Mountains.

Bisbee AriZ., June 1l.-(Specia, cor of The Republican, )-Ar- irving in Bisbee for the first time one is strongly reminded of some eastern coal camp of large production, or nor, forcibly of an iron mining town of the Allegheny districts. If he has eve been SO fortunate as to have visited one. The camp, for so 1t appeals tC one. although 1t numbers nearly 5000 souls within its borders, is situated In gulch between two systems of noun
 tains As the gulch is only some 50,
 to 800 feet wide and cut and crosscu
 with innumerable side gullies, the in-
 habitants have been forced to retreat up the hillsides, and there gouge ou
 little terrace upon which to plant a
 resting place These cots present a
 varied and strange appearance to the eye untutored, save in the congenia.
 and convenient methods of home con- struction and city Improvements Here
 perched on a few slender supports,
 high above the trail, some thrift
 miner has builded himself a home There rests a residence on few square
 feet of ground made level by the aid of
 masonry built in the side of the hill
 ana filled In with rock and what loose
 soil that was to be had. The majority of the houses are constructed or
 shelves and benches made with pow der and shovel in the steep hillside, and all are made of wood, as stone fiji for building purposes. and brick are
 we'll nigh unknown here. People are too busily engaged in the interest oi mining at good wages to launch into outside risky enterprises. Fences art unknown luxuries, as ones lot Is barely 100 square feet in excess of his floor space, and the trail to his neigh
 bor passes within hand shaking dis tance of, his front dcor. I can steT from the hillside shelf. where my den roof of the house below not ten feet from the door. and thus 1t Is through. out the camp.
 The mine and smelter are. situated at the lower end of the gulch and tht surface works utilize all of the open space there for operations. The busi- ness portion of the town consists of one street about fifty feet wide. running up the gulch Just above the smelter works, and the total could be told in 300 running feet. leaving out the build ings of the Copper Queen. With a few exceptions, the buildings are all wood and what in a modern city would bt mere shacks, are not so bad when the unfavorable situation of this camp is considered. It Is not to bs thought that there are no modern for among the residences there are a few very comfortable anc tasteful homes, the exceptions of which only prove the rule. The business DOT ton is graced by the buildings of the Copper Queen, which are not only large but are substantial buildings. Besides the store and warehouses and offices the Copper Queen has constructed and given to the city a library buildings the second story of which is used by the lodges and for religious services The library which occupies the first floor, is run on the circulating plan anc Is open to all. This is the headquar- ters for all the workingmen when off shift.
 The company has now in the course of construction and nearly completed large hotel, built of brick and roofed with sheet copper, the cost of which must exceed $100, ,000--a structure which any city in the southwest might well be proud of; to be furnished with all he conveniences of modern hotel Now in the hands of the wOrkmen and fast assuming proportions is a gymna- sium, a gift to the city by the Copper Queen. to be replete, when finished. in al! the appliances of a modern gymna- ;ium. bowling alley, bars, rings. etc. A new church will be