Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-02-24

hostility of the mining and agricultural
 interests, representatives of which arc
 now thronging the city, and lobbying <
 about the hotels with the legislators.
 This family row promises to be the
 center of public interest until it is set
 tied. Sunday and Washington s birth
 day were both devoted to affectionate
 button holing of the lawmakers. A num-
 Der of citizens of that county arrived
 here yesterday and it is said that others are on their way. MT. Hampton has the copy of the bill prepared and it will
 be introduced Tuesday. Mr. Pace in the house will make hard fight against the measure, and may be able to rally to his support most of the Maricopa as. semblymen.
 The fight recalls vividly the history of the scrap over the assessment of the mining companies of that county by John Birdno, before tho territorial board of equalization in 1904. Mir Birdno is in the city and will lead the fight against division. He has petitions with over 1000 signers from Graham against cutting the county in two.
 The line of division will run about eight miles east of Solomonville, along the Paenosla mountain range. The Duncan country will be in the new county, Lincoln. It is valley of about twenty miles in length in the Gila. The acc lp ,f lNl vision would be about $6,O00,000 while that of Graham will be a little over $2,000,000. In the latter county there would be approximately 2s,000 acres of irrigated valley land under the Gila in Sulphur Springs region.
 From an impartial standpoint the situation seems to be that since the big companies have been compelled to pay heavier taxes under the bullion tax law, that they want counties of their own, that they can control, leav- ing the rest to hold the sack. There is a possibility that the division of Ora ham by the present legislature under the influence that is being brought to bear, that before the session ends, other propositions to divide will be made, giv- ing the big mining companies coun- ties of their own.
 All the companes, mining, railroad, etc, are paying taxes on $i,750,000 worth of property. The Mining Engi- neering Journal of December gives the valuation of the improvements of one company alone, exclusive of the mines, at $5,244,0 ,000. IL is said that conserva tive estimates of the value of the mines in Graham county will run upwards of $6O,OO0,0OO.
 When Birdno was before the terri torial board he gave in evidence that the Arizona Copper company returned in assessed valuation $S30,00O And at the same time it was shown that the dividends af the company were in round numbers $2,O0O,000
 The meeting Saturday between the sub committees of the council and the railroad officials resulted in no headway, as far as the nature of the legislation to te enacted was concerned The rail. roads did not come forward with conces- sions that amounted to anything, but devoted their efforts to proving that business would stand neither passen- ger fare reductions nor cuts in freight rates. Much statistical data was pre- sented but some of the members in the caucus were not satisfied with the show ing. One councilman declared that he would attend no more of these secret sessions as he was disgusted with the dilatory tactics of the rest of the crowd Among the railroad men in attendance were: M o. Bicknell of the Southern Pacific; w. A. Drake, F. ?. Cruice, r. P. Hastingsof the s. F. P. and P. M. L. Bryne, c. P. A., of Los Angeles; E. E. Ellinwood, representing the Fl Paso and South Western; LeRoy Anderson, Frank Cox, attorney for the Southern Pacific and l.. II. Chalmers, attorney for the Santa Fe.
 One man that the press is always able to find where he stands, is Ben Goodrich. On nearly every important issue which he has investigated, Ben makes declaration of his position when approached. That sort of man is admired, even if you capnot agree with his views. The judge vas for the Pace bill from the start. Now he says he is against a railroad commission, and unquestonably he will vote against any bill creating tGat body. Hampton, on the other hand, is more rSticent, but he is on the square and lie judgment is given respectful consideration. Burns is foxy, and shrewd, while Weedin is complacent and contented all the time, but most self satisfied when he is going after some of the territorial officials, whom, he claims, tried to defeat him in the last election
 What will be done regarding the Flagstaff Normal IS much mooted question just now. The committee which visited that institution have not yet made any report, but MT. Sutter, who was one of the members, has ex- pressed himself as opposed to any more appropriations, It is claimed that it costs too much considering the number of nunila which ara in attendanpp and