The copper era and Morenci leader., 1917-03-23

business affairs Tuesday afternoon ard evening and devoted their atten- tion to the Welcoming and enetItain ing of the members of the Pep, Push and Progress" delegation from Fl Paso, who this week are making q tour of New Mexico and Arizona.
 The special train comprised of eight Pullmans and dining car cross ed the New Mexico line early Tues day morning and were met at Guthrie by R. K. Minson, Traffic Manager of the A. & N M. Ky. who accompan- jed the party to Morenci and thence to Clifton.
 The party reached Morenci after a thrilling ride over the Morenci Southern railway, where they were welcomed by officials of the Detroit Copper Co.,. and citizens of the com munity, the Sixth infantry band fur nlshing the music for concert in the meantime.
 Shortly after their arrival in Mo renci the party was met by. Mr. P. Riley, of Clifton, Chairman of the Committee on Reception and accom- panied the party to the county seat.
 The editor of the Fl Paso Times in describing the auto ride from Mo renci to Clifton describes the trip as follows in the issue of the Times the following morning:
 Go Over New Scenic Road.
 Shortly before noon automobiles were provided and the entire party were taken over the new scenic road to Clifton This road, like the rail- road in which they entered was a re- velation to the visitors. Smooth as kh@ srrIar dc, it's way along the shelves of rock, around sharp curves, many of which are guarded by substantial stone abutments, while others are not. Those that are not were the ones that attracted the most attention and not a few of he Pep, Push and Prog ressers put considerable pep and push into bearing down hard on imagin- ary brakes as their cars passed around the dangerous places. One of the chauffeurs obligingly pointed out the place where a car had gone over the bank and where three per sons lost their lives. There is no danger, however, when the driver is , careful, and the drivers who were en trusted with the safety of the Ell Pasoans all proved of the careful variety"
 When Clifton was reached shortly before 1 o'clock the excursionists were welcomed by Mayor O. J. Cotey at. the head of a committee represent ing the Town Council and members of the Greenlee County Chamber of Com merce Assembling on the plaza the visitors accompanied by the Clifton ties marched to the Masonic Hall. Chairman Riley introduced Mayor Cotey who assured the visitors that the town was theirs and the keys to the city had been thrown into the river
 A representative of the Greenlee County Chamber of Commerce well comed the guests and called their at tention to few historical facts, saying in part as follows: .-'
 Friends from Fl Paso, the metropo- lis of the southwest, we are extreme ly glad of the opportunity afforded us to be the first to extend the hand of welcome in Arizona, and in our small and limited way, to have you know the cordial relations in social and business way that exists between the business men of this section and your representatives of the business interests of Fl Paso, which year by year, is becoming the jobbing, manu. featuring, and banking center of Ari. szona and New Mexico.
 Tells of States Greatness
 Now that you are on Arizona soil am going to impose on you about three minutes and tell you where you are at You are in a state that last year , produced one-third of the entire cop per output of the United States, the production having value of $1S9, 100000 The district that you are visiting today produced thirty mil. lions of that amount, and that's nothing to be sneered at. Total as sessed value of the state is $486, 6,-0OO,, 900 of which Greenlee county's valu' ation was $32,00O, ,000 in 1916. There is another interesting historical fact in connection with the copper indus try in Arizona that you can carry with you on your trip, and that is this: the Clifton-Morenci district is the oldest continuous producing copper district in the state. And here is another bit of history I want you to make note of, the first railroad ever built in Arizona was built up Chase Creek, between Clifton and Metcalf and the first locomotive ever operat ed in Arizona was over the 20 inch gauge line.
 Not Named for Cliffs.
 q venture to say that most of you are of the opinion that our town is named after the towering cliffs along the river. Such is not the case. Ar adventurous spirit by the name oi Henry Clifton, in the year 1864, al that time mining recorder of Hassay ampa mining district in Mohave coun ty, with half dozen adventurous spirits, made his way to the SaI Francisco river, where a new Edo f rado was said to await them. This locality was named Clifton in honor of Captain Henry Clifton.
 But before that, in 1850, a party named Weanes, was trapping beavers along the Frisco, but it was not unti 1870, with the coming of a band ot prospectors from Pinos Altos, neal Silver City, headed by our townsmaI