Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1905-11-15
FORMER RESIDENT
NOTES MANY
CHANGES
Progress Of Prescott
Deeply Impresses
S. S. Acker
Father Of Coconino''
Is A Visitor
Here
(From Saturdays Daily.)

Inc people OF prescott are the
best hearted on earth,'' said S. S. Ack
er, a prominent stockman and ranchel
from Coconino county to Journal
miner man yesterday. 81 notice a
wonderful improvement in this city
since my last visit here a few years
ago. he continued. "The street cars
running in your town and the vast i'm
prOvements you are making in your
water works as well as the rebuilding
of Fort Whipple, impresses me that
this town is going ahead right along
and that it has a great FUTURE
FBut," he said, ''what is the matter
that this county cannot get out of debt
In our county we have reduced the tax
rate last year to 3 per cent and we
have a large surplus in our county
treasury, while Yavapai seems to stick
to TIE old rate and is hard up in a
in-ncial way"
Speaking &C tie forest reserves which
are being established by the national
government in his county, he said
Hthat it appeared to him and a great
number of the residents of Coconino
county that it was the most colossal
steal that had been perpetrated in the
west for many years.
Mr. Acker came to Prescott in the
winter of 1876, and was engaged in
business here for a number of years.
He afterwards moved to his present
home in Coconino county, and WIS
chairman of the executive committee
of the residents of Coconino county
that brought legislation about for the
formation of Coconino county from the
eastern portion of Yavapai county in
the year 1891. All of his acquaint-
is known around Flagstaff and Will
liams as the "Father of Coconino
county, He is man of almost gi
ant stature, of a very commanding
appearance, and yet in the prime of
life. He is a deep student of public
affairs, ard takes very active inter
est in the county politics of Coconino.
He is prominently mentioned by the
leaders of his party as a candidate for
the office of county treasurer at the
next election to be held there. He is
a man of good education, has had va
ried experience in the west, and gives
one the impression that he is made of
the stuff that has blazed trails in pio-
neer days for the advance of the civ |
ilization of the present time. !
The ranch known as the Apache Maid
ranch is his home. 1t is situated at
the foot of the mountain by that name,
one of the prominent peaks that lifts
its picturesque head in the heart OF
the Mogollons. 1t is an ideal home /
for such a character. Its sylvan re-
treats are annually visited by num-
bers of hunters and tourists who are
delighted by its beauties and find re-
creation in its solitudes. The student
of ancient peoples will find much TO
interest him in the cliff dwellings of
Beaver canyon, which is in the imme-
diate vicirity, while those in quest
of deer and bear are rarely disappointed
in the mountain Businesses close by. 1t |
is situated about 40 miles south of
Flagstaff ard about % miles northeast !
of Camp Verde, contains about 500
acres of tillable land, which produces
abundant crops of potatoes, winter
wheat, barley, hay and other veget-
ables indigenous to northern Arizona.
lie spent all OF this week in this city
in attendance at Court as a witness in
the litiation ever the appropriation of
the waters of Beaver creek, and will
leave for his home today.