New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-13
Frank Merchant, who live IN washington were
informed Of the serious Illness Of the Governor
Yesterday. and started at once for Batopilas.

aIax.rdar p shepherd when Governor Of the
District of Columbia did much for the improve
ment of the city OF Washington. He changed II
from a municipality of narrow and muddy streets
"a one Of broad and well paved bouleVaros' put
the enormous expenditures involved aroused so
much opposition that he was to1ceu OUT Vi oii'ee.
But in little than two years 'iie h''ioiei
caoital had been changed from one OF the most
,haaI.h,, ct+,ee in The country the most whole
sor,e and II was beautided in every way Charges
of corruption against Boss shepherd, DIS ne was
called were presented, and Congressional iflVes-
tigatlon followed, with many aAesatio's u eoi
ruption none Of which were SuStdiieu.
Governor Sbenberd was native Of Washington.
heinp horn there on January 30. 1850 owing 10
the death of his father he had 10 sulpoi 80
at an early age, and learned .he Ca $50, -,
A quarrel with his employer leu " ~e' s,
he became plumber In this ne was sucoeesiui'
"a coon owned his business and had large IN
come In 1862 he served member OF a Wash-
ington military company, klo"i' O. 49, 30
Rifles. Soon afterward ne was H'"-0 -
the City Council OF Washlngtoh' o, 80
After the war there was talk OF the ieiioSai u
The national capital to St Louis. OWING 10 the iach
of loyalty in Washington and It's t 80
Mr. Shepherd became interested 'i ieu ~
ranutation of his native city and set on loot meas
= . o,ra,arcive system of local improve
,ar+s These were initiated by the CITIZENS reform
association OF which he was chairman anu tei
he became vce-president OF the Ho p.asi7at
,,yorle Ia,,t II was not until 1870. Wheh ffeslell
E.rnn
-, oS.r;tor,, ~ the District Of Columbia that ne
had full opportunity to carry out MS Pi1'
jngto1 was a city of swamps anu nv -.
Though elaborate plans had peei hiaue -
ont the national capital, little I'D" 80 "
carving out the improvements eACeP' ~ ~
roedfate vicinity of the federal buliolisS SN INC
In, tho citv was TO pay one-haf ana tle ha'iohai
,,,r,,art the other of the cost OF locai mp
~oa,ts Governor Shepherd undertooh uieil o4i ~
extensive n scale that in little more IMAM wv yeas
s4o o1o oao had been expended. The natoil'i'
t-a+ion stood behind him. but partisan ciS VI -
runtion was raised The outcome OF the invest
tor was thar the government of the Dfslricl was
red from, the territorial form TO that al p eseh'
prevailing the Governor being sue'|e -, ..r,.,
Commissioners President Grant appoii'e'
Shepherd one of the Commissioners pu' '0 -
refused TO confirm him. He retufheu " us f
ing business but was forced into oahhiup'oS-
After paying off his debts he Ioohea 49, "
new field and found one in silver naliliHs III ~
In 1SS1 he went to Ratopias where as vice iesi
dent and general manager of the Batopllas Milling
Company, he developed one OF the sieat''I 81
mines on the continent His success theie was
largely due to his energy and ability Tor ne .udlo
mountains for the VEINS y" sin 900 nOn
use Of the water power and 1nVesleu DC
of the profits from the mines III troI 80 nm
dred miles from Chihuahua the seoSed 70 have a
point Several years ago ne us ~ Sierra Madra
piano home in the heart o. ne in thi.
citv and ordered il shipped TO Ch1nuait LII -
chihuahua il taken apart w ~ Trim over the
on tLe backs burros and the ions w eii th
mountains begun. The nouSe >" taLa ~ anart
piano sent an expert alSg with u 20 taae ~ api
nd nut IL togetter agaS ~&>a its oesunatlon was