Williams news., 1906-04-14

around. What did the town have when we bought the Caufman land? Nothing but an old grand stand, which was subject to move at any time, as it was on the Scott estate. What has the town now? A prop erty that is worth about $120O, all paid for, and ought to bring the town revenue of two or three hun dred dollars year. However, if the town don't want it I will pay them back their money and they can deed it over to me. Some of them said that I got $50 from MT. Caufman for selling the land to the town. Now, if MT. Caufman paid me $50 he had to buy at least two more of the council; that would cost him altogether $50, but as all the council stood in together and bought it if he paid one he must have paid all, SO it either cost him $25O or nothing. The mayor merely holds the balance of power; if two had voted for and two against any proposition then the mayors vote counts; otherwise he has no say. As they all voted for everything of importance that has ever come up before the council, unless they kept away rather than go on record, all but turning the COWS and horses loose on the streets. Had I been here it would have been the same, as there were three of the council in favor of it. Now since they have have got things to suit them they ought to hire a man to keep the manure cleared off the sidewalks and patch up the sidewalks that the stock break up. They think they have done a good turn for the people who wish to have their COWS run on the streets, break into other peoples barns and yards and de- stroy other peoples property; but it won't look so good to them if they get some of their cows poisoned, the same as they did last year before we put the stock out of town. I lost one COW myself, and there were several others soon died, and some came very near it.
 Now, you can run over all of the people some of the time; you can run over some of the people all of the time, but you can't run over all of the people all of the time. The town today is in very fair shape, with money enough on hand to put in the bridges necessary and the rest of the crossings. I had figured that by the first of July this year we would be able to cut alllicense tax one-half or at least one third. and have plenty to run the town on without ever having to levy another property tax.
 Last year we were about $4O0 short on street tax, because it was not collected. At the same time the same men who did not even pay a street tax get in and tell a man that pays more real estate tax than any other man living in the town to take back seat and let some one that has scarcely any interests in the town to look out for him.
 . As they told me to go way back, I will start again. Twenty-two or twenty three years ago, before some of these voters had seen the light of day, Williams wanted a school. As we were in Yavapai county at that time and there was no school dis trict here, we could draw no school funds. Although at that time not knowing that I ever would be mar ried, far more have any children of my own to go to school, helped build, or pay for building, school house and pay the teachers salary. After 1 was married 1 was elected school trustee. Now. here is where the town had the first fight. I wanted to build the school house. I had MT. Button draw up the plans for the building we have now, and I wanted to issue bonds to build the