Arizona silver belt., 1903-01-15

over him for several hours, brought him to. Merrill's body was shipped to his home and buried in the Thatch- CT cemetery December 30.
 A correspondent of the Phoenix Re- publican, writing from Williams, says: "Northern Arizona for the first time in many years is enjoying typical New England winter. This fact mak- eth the soul of every inhabitant 10 re- joice, for it means the tiny mouths of this part of old mother earth have been for the past two months and are still drinking to her ill. The old pio- neers say this is the first winter of the kind since lS79."
 An exchange says the Angora goat industry may be the means of adding millions to the wealth of the territory and the country at large. Comparing it with the sheep industry we lind that though the dressed carcass of the An gora goat may be somewhat smaller, the meat in quality is equal, if not su- perior, to mutton The annual clip from sheep and Angora goats will probably average about the same by weight, but the fleece of mohair will as a rule, bring three or four times as much of the fleece of wool.
 Bisbee and other points in south eastern Arizona reached by the Fl PaSo X Sou thwestern railroad have been materially benefited by the building of that road. One year ago the freight rate from Fl PaSo to Bis bee was $222. The rate now, oyer the new road, is $l.S2, which means a say ing of about $l20 a car. The Miner says that Bisbee merchants are giving their customers the benefit of the re- duCtiOn, and that as a result goods are cheaper in BiSbee now than eyer be- fore.
 W. H. Lapham aud \. P. Neill, of Washington City, arrived in Solomon vile Monday. They are connected with the agricultural department of the government and they come here for the purpose of making a soil sur vey of the Gila valley, which will be used in the publication of depart ment report on the soil conditions of the valley, including a cOlored map showing the different varieties of soil. They will make thorough examination and locate the presence of alkali or other injurious conditions. The work will require the presence of these gen tlemen in the valley for probably three mon Bulletin.
 J. A. Conlee, of West Prescott, was awakened about o'clock in the mOrn- ing by man who was going through Conlae'S clothes in search of whatever loose change they contained. He arose and grappled with the thief and the latter put up fight with knife, cut ting COnlee in several places. Conlec knocked the man down with stick of wood and the rObber ran away when Conlee got his pistol out and fired a shot at the fleeing man but failed to hit him. The thief got away with about $50 of Conlee'S money and be fore the latter awakened he had things in the room scattered in all di- rectiOns.
 Considerable uneaSineSS is still felt in southern Arizona cities over the re- ports of the prevalence of bubonic plague at Mazltlan. At Phoenix, DTS II. w. Fenner and Mark Rodgers, rep resent ting the local doctors, requested the chamber of commerce to ask the surgeon general at Washington to take measures against it's possible entrance into this section. They request that goods should only be passed through the port of GuaymaS for this section, and that goods from Sinaloa be strict ly quarantined. The surgeon general replied promptly that he had an off cer en route to GuaymaS t make complete investigation, and that he would try and have the Mexican gov ernment take proper steps.
 John J. Birdno was appointed asses sor of Graham county. The Bulletin says: This is an important office in Graham county. The assessment of the property of this county, if it is properly done, will increase the total assessed value to over $4,00O, 900 for the present year. If the Gila Valley railroad is included this year the total should not fall below $5,000,000. If it falls below these figures it will be be- cause the work is not properly done. One trouble with former assessments is the fact that most of the work has been peddled out to deputies. If We ever get decent assessment it will be when the assessor starts on the first of February and makes the assessment himself, not by sitting in his office and receiving the reports of deputies, but by going personally to see the property owners and finding out what they own which should be listed for taxation"