Williams news., 1905-06-17
ARlZONA'S BRIGHT HISTORY
A Quarter of Century of Pro-
 sress in the Territory
By Ex-Governor A. O. BrOdie.

no brighter pages than those writ ten during the past twenty five years. When it is considered that the advantages of railroads were denied us until 1878, when the com ing of the Southern Pacific heralded the discovery of a new and wonder full region, the marvellous progress made during the past twenty-five years entities Arizona by reason of having earned it, to place of prom ineuce in the subdivisions of our country.
 Universities make men strong, and with such conditions as the pioneers of Arizona had to face it is little wonder that they represent in themselves and in their descend ants a class whose fear is yielded to none but their Maker.
 The willingness to attempt, the hardihood to endure, the courage to sacrifice, and the ability to achieve, have ever characterized the citizenship of Arizona; and without these qualities Arizona could never have reached the important com mercial and social plane on which her fame is built. The anomalous physical conditions, the alert hos tility of human foe, the desola- tion and isolation, combined in raising a barrier against the ad- mission of weakhearted men. Only the brave could expect to conquer, and only the iron willed would dare attempt it.
 The pioneers are rapidly passing away, but the memory of their heroic deeds should be kept fresh in the. minds of the young, and their sacrifices and struggles should never be forgotten by those who have come to live and enjoy the freedom they won at such great loss of life and property. .,.
 Although the territorial form of government was inaugurated in 1863, when Arizona was detached from New Mexico, it was not until 1874 that any considerable progress set in. The discovery of the rich mines in the Bradshaw mountains south of Prescott in 1870 had at- tracted a number of people to that section of the territory, and the Weaver placer fields made hun dreds risk the dangers of the iron tier in the search of gold. In 1874 and 1875 there was great excite ment at Globe owing to the discov- cry of Munson's chunk" of silver and other remarkably rich finds. About the same time came the Sil- yer King strike, which gave Ari- zona a mining camp whose fame brought thousands to this section of the country. The discovery of the Peck mine was an important event in. Arizona, and the mine proved producer of silver for years afterward. This was perhaps one of the liveliest camps at that time of any in the territory, owing to the character of the ore, which was found in small but rich veins, thus affording most profitable means of "chloriding."
 The mines worked in those days were extremely rich; indeed, only the richest veins could be worked with profit, and men expected rich returns for their labor. The Vul ture was one of the early discov cries, and during it's life produced many millions of dollars. There were a number of mining camps in existence in Arizona in 1878 when the Tombstone mines were discov- cred although there was no camp iii the history of those days that could compare with Tombstone in importance. Within a short time over 4OOO people were living there. and it became the recognized center of mining activity in the new south west. Throughout the territory to- day we find many of our leading