Arizona republican., 1911-03-09
PHOENIX FIRST PLACE
THEY WANTED A HOME
ACCIDENTAL VISIT OF A MASSA
cHUsETTs FAMILY.
And They Had Sought Only Pleasant
Places.

Refugees from the winter, now on
their WAY back home by a circuitous
route. there arrived in the city yes
terday morning Ii. l.. Pierce. wife
and daughter, of Fitchburg, Mass.
Mr.. Pierce is millionaire and one of
the foremost producers Of phosphate
i'm the world. The operations of his
concern are widely scattered. but the
center of the industry is in Florida.
Early last fan Mr.. Pierce and fam
lily left their New England home. de-
termined To see only summer. They
went direct to the West Indies and
spent the winter months there, at
Bermuda. Martinique. jamaica and
cruising throughout the sumner seas.
From the West Indies they went To
Mexico and visited nearly all points
of interest in the republic along the
eastern coast There was one thing
more they wanted IL see before re-
turning to their eastern home-the
Grand CanyOn-after which they de-
cided 10 make a short run through
southern California. BY that time
To Massachusetts.
Phoenix was only an incident on
the trip To the Grand Canyon. Mr..
Pierce said that his attention had
never been directed TO this part Of the
country. He knew only in a gem
eral way that there was an Arizona.
To him ii was nothing more than
stretch of sagebrush. sand and for
bidding mountains. not worth making
state out Of. OF Phoenix ne had
never heard a single word. That is,
he never heard of il until he left
Fl Paso and then he learned that il
was a point on his way To the Grand
Canyon. He heard just as much
about Maricopa. Red Rock and other
points along the way.
But when the Maricopa & Phoenix
train entered the valley yesterday
morning the Pierces began To take
notice Of things. They had seen
nothing like that since they left the
everlasting green of the West Indies
They were pleased Ia learn that they
could spend a day in this unheard OF
/ town of Phoenix. ON their arrival in
I the city they wasted no time but
chartered an automobile and set out
! To- see the most that could be seen
] in so short a time. They visited the
Indian school: they saw many Of the
/ orange orchards and had a view OF
some of the thousands Of ostriches
They saw herds of cattle belly deep
! in green alfalfa fields. There Were
/ blooming roses and blooming fruit
trees. The air was filled with pleas
ant smells.
! Mrs. Pierce said yesterday afternoon
I that Phoenix was tine only place she
( had visited on her tour that she would
. like TO live in; it was the only pace
7 that had ever suggested any other
home To her than her Massachusetts
! home. and on leaving she said she
/ hoped that the affairs of the family
might he so arranged that they would
! have a regular winter residence in
Phoenix.
But they will have AT Fitchburg
many things To remind them o1
] Phoenix. for after their drive about
the valley. while passing the Big
/ Curio Store. they entered To buy SONS
reminder of this city. They stayed
! long enough to buy the outfitting:
! for two dens, one for the mother and
the other for the daughter. The hus.
band and father. with checkbook IL
hand stood by encourag ing the on.
: slaught upon the stock.