The copper era. (Clifton, Graham County, Ariz.) 1899-1911, 1902-09-25
THE "BOSSS" RETURN.
Death Of Former Governor Shep-
herd Recalls Curious Scene.


nouncing the death there OF Alexan-
der II. Shepherd, who was vice presi-
dent OF the board OF public works for
the District OF Colum bia during the
territorial government OF the district
in 1871, and two years later governor
OF the district.
He was sixty-scycn years OF age.
The cause OF death was peritonitis,
brought on by an attack Of appended
It's. Governor Shepherd as executive
officer OF the board OF public works in
spite of vigorous opposition, began
and successfully continued the i'm
provcmcnts in all parts OF the city,
with the result that Washington be-
came magnificent capital. To the
governor is given the credit for nip
ping in the bud a scheme for the re-
moyal OF tho capital to some western
city, which was warmly agitated al
one time.
Froi-rLs -q..,..tieHi -q,..:ts in spending the
y:5dblic money and forcing improve
mcnts against the public will, he came
To be known a. Boss He increased
the tax rates and assessments bcyond
the willingness OF the people to stand,
and Notwithstanding the fact that the
money he spent seemed to show for
something, he was hated and rcyilcd
by the very people who had put him in
Office.
I. Of V-h
then looked upon as reckless cXtraya-
gancc and criminal misuse OF public
money, that the government Of the
federal district was shortly afterwards
changed by congress to substantially
its present form, ard the people Of the
District Of Columbia dcfranchised.
Congress took away from the people
the right to name their own governor
or mayor, and the right to disburse the
money they themselves paid in for
taxes, and established a system Of com
missiouers, by which the nation shares
in the expense OF the government and
maintenance OF the city, while the
president with the consent OF the sem
ate appoints the executive officers.
BOSS" Shepherd was abused to such
an cAtcut that he went away TO Mexico
and announced that he would not re-
turn. Batopilas at that time was eX-
coedingly remote, and communication
was difficult, 80 that it amounted TO II
voluntary exile. For more than a de-
cade Shepherd -ltpred in Mexico, and
then il was announced that the hated
boss" would return to Washington on
a visit.
Then came the strange thing. Wash
ington had learned to admire the man
who had started the city on the up
ward road, who had abolished the mud
pixies and paved the streets, who had
graded down the hills and filled the
ponds, made sidewalks and inaugural
cd the parkway system. 1t began TO
be understood that Shepherd had real
" had brilliant idea and had carried
it out with a powerful hand, for the
highest good of the city.
SO when it was told about that Shep-
herd was coming back, the citizens got
together and planned surprise.
Committees were appointed, and big
fund raised. The night the hated
"boss" came in, the Avenue was lined
with tens of thousands of people
Flags lloatcd everywhere, and red and
blue lights blazed along the way.
Tho District militia and all the bands
aud organized bodies that coud get a
place were in line. The governor"
was met as 4 president might have
been, and escorted up the Avenue
while the fireworks blazed and tho
bands played and the crowds cheorcd
until they were hoarsc. Boss" Shep-
herd had returned.
After that Washington and Shep-
herd understood each other. They
were friends once moro, and Washing |
ton holds the name of shepherd /
among those of her honored public
men.
Many stories are told OF his life in
Batopilas, how when he went there
the country was quite wild, and the
people savage and strange; how he in
duccd the Indians to aid him while he
built his houses and opened up the
great ledge OF silver; how he carried
in great pieces OF mining machinery
on the backs OF Indians aud burros
over mountain trails well nigh impass-
able; how when the time came to
make improvements in his palace"
he had two pianos made so that they
could be taken apart and in this way
they were taken by Indians cargadors
over the mountain trails we'll nigh i'm
passablc; how great cables were car
ried by the long trains of men in sin
gle file, and heavy material OF every
sort was transported in parts by the
Indians, who became attached to him
Ss-sse EssESs;-
XS1SSS$