Bisbee daily review., 1905-10-08
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.


 from Phoenix. where he spent several days with the Territorial fair board, of which he is a prominent member Mir. Packard took occasion to say that arrangements for the first Territorial fair were making excellent progress, and that while some of the Territo- rial officials. backed by a few foolish citizens of Phoenix, had shown de cided unfriendliness for Cochise county. he could guarantee that the large majority of the citizens of Phoe- nix and Maricopa county did not ap- prove of the assault on the mining in dustry of that county in raising indis. criminately the assessment on the patented mines in COchise county 1500 per cent. Mir. Packard is very anxious that Cochise county shall make a good showing at the Territo- rial fair.
 Benson has done well this year in the matter of progress. During the year number of creditable buildings have been erected in both the busi ness and residence sections. With the exception of one or two vacant lots all the burned district on Main street has been rebuilt with better class of houses. A year ago the busi- ness men of Benson were without banking conveniences. Now there are two banks here. The Citizens Bank of Benson is owned partly by citizens of Douglas and partly by cit iZens of Benson. L. c. Hanks of the First National Bank of Douglas is the president of the Citizens Bank; H. Gerwein, the well-known pioneer cit izen of Benson. engaged in the lum- Der business, is vice-president. and J. A. Gibbs, well known in Douglas, is cashier. Mir. Gibbs knows how to ex- tend the glad hand" to Douglasites. and is a perfect business encyclope- dia in giving information concerning the industries and business enter. prises in Benson.
 It is wonder to me- said he to- day, that city possessing so many advantages as Benson should have made so little growth in the past | Around Benson and tributary to it we have the rich agricultural lands of the | San Pedro valley, an unexcelled cattle | country, rich mineral in the hills on | every side of us and lines of railroad | going in every direction, reaching the rich state of Sonora in Mexico at three points-Nogales, Naco and Douglas"
 Mir. Gibbs is enthusiastic over the outlook for greater future for Ben son, and it would be too bad should he be disappointed.
 The Bank of Benson is the second bank here. It is controlled by the same people who erected the smelter here, though some local people hold some of the stock, among them being the Hon. Steve Roemer. Speaking about the new smelter in Benson re minds me that there is nothing doing there. The plant was completed last February and since then many dates have been set for blowing in" the TIrnace, but so far no smoke has ascended the stack. nor thas there been any ore put Into the furnace. Ask any one in Benson when the smelter will begin operations, and he will show signs of chagrin and at least two changed the subject today by proposing a visit to the nearest bar In the barber shop the tonsorial artist declared that Benson would have to look for support from other enterprises than the smelter. The trouble seems to be a lack of funds; Some attribute the want of activity to a lack of ore; either of these lacks would necessarily be fatal to the en- terprise, l. Since Governor Kibbey telegraphed for the resignation of Superintendent Berner. the industrial school here has been under the management of J. P. Mahoney, who came here from Nav ajo county to succeed Berner- MT. Mahoney is said to be a very nice gentleman, though he will not become more popular here than MT. Berner. The people of Benson were not pleased with the shabby treatment Mir Berner received at the hands of Governor Kjbbey, and the ex-superin- | tendent of the Industrial School at Benson was given big banquet, in | which the entire town took part as an evidence of their confidence in him l as a man and a public official
 D. T. 6
 There is some talk in Benson of an other brick enterprise in this city. It is well known that the vicinity of Benson contains a brick clay superior to any to be found in the west. It is claimed that this clay will burn into brick which cannot be excelled for street paving. Four years ago local company was formed heer to engage in the manufacture of brick to supply Bisbee, Douglas, NacO, Cananea, Tue son and other points. This company was promoted by Dick Bowen, the veteran railroad conductor, now al merchant in Paradise. Many thou sands of dollars were expended in putting in an up-to-date plant and the manufacture of brick had just begun when the plant burned down. There was some insurance, but nothing like enough to rebuild the plant, and the stockholders became involved fn liti- gation which ate up what insurance was paid as a result of the burning of the plant, and this finished the enterprise and some of the men who put their money into it.
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