Weekly journal-miner., 1917-12-26

Of Yavapai before the public. A story of the Aztec bean, illustrated with cut of Montezuma Castle, was writ ten by your Secretary for the Los Angeles Tribune and appeared in last Sundays edition. AS result thereof, l94 inquiries were received in one day regarding this bean and this section of the country.
 Clippings of these articles and all work in this connection are on file in this office and these records are :. open for the inspection of those in terested. In addition to the items mentioned, your State and town papers arc furnished with interesting news articles regarding the develop ment of Yavapai county.
 Yavapai county may truly be con sidered the first county in the State, for at the Arizona State Fair, recent ly closed, she was awarded the first prize for the best mining exhibit: first for the best decorated and most ar tistically arranged booth: second for the best and largest agricultural dis play; first for milk, first for cream. first for butter, first in livestock and many awards in the educational and womcn'S departments. The competi ton this year was keen, all l4 coun- ties of the State being represented.
 Recently contract was signed with Mir. P. R. Mines to furnish weekly mining letters to the press of the country. Records of this work arc being kept in this office. The old plan of listing the mining properties will he taken up this year and com pletcd While we have been some what hampered with respect to dis play rooms, at this time, the Yavapai County Chamber of Commerce !. possesses the most beautiful exhibit, agriculturally. of any county in the F State, and its mineral display, having received first award. needs no further comment When these exhibits are in place in the new courthouse. Yava- pal county may justly boast the finest exhibit hall in the entire State. A different line of office furniture should be installed, 10 take the place of what we have at the present time, and, in my judgment, a committee should be appointed to look after this matter.
 Progress is being made with re- spect to the proposed building of the short line road to Jerome and de finite action may be expected soon. This organization was responsible for the favorable action taken by other commercial organization thru out the State, in urging that State road work be continued during the period of the war.
 Your Secretary was Instrumental in having the U. s. Mine Rescue Car visit Navapai county, spending one week in Jerome, and one week in Humboldt; safety first lectures were given by experts. During the North crn Arizona Fair, Professor Fansct; gave a series of lectures and demon strationS which proved beneficial to those interested in mining During the year, further lectures and demon strations will be given, under the auspices of this organization.
 We were fortunate in having the l services for few months of a train cd farm advisor, but owing to the draft, we lost this valuable assistant believe some definite action should be taken by this organization in re commenting to the State University and to the Arizona State Council oi Defense, that this position be filled so that Navapai county may receive the benefit of this advice. am reliably informed that Mir L. l. Bates, who would make an ideal man for this position, will leave as super intendcnt Of the Dry Farm, as soon as successor can be found Mir Bates will go into farming for him self; but l am sure he could be in- duccd to take up this work. The crop survey of Yavapai is another item which can be added to the ac- complishmcnts of this county
 From the above, it is evident that we have accomplished something dur ing the year 1917. The meetings oi this organization were largely attend cd up 10 July, but since that time, cX- ccpt on special occasions, the attend ancc has not been as large as it should be l believe that the few facts outlined in this report are in themselves worthy of the considcra- ton of those interested in the de velopmcnt of their county and tha; during the coming year, a special ef- fort should be made to enlist the in tcrcst and cooperation of all Of its citizens in this work. One suggestion in this respect l believe if particular chairman were appointed to arrange for the plan of the weekly meetings that this might assist.
 In closing, l desire 10 say that this report does not fully cover the activi- ties of the Chamber of Commerce, but is a brief outline of some of its more important functions. In an or ganization of this kind, it is difficult to point to specific accomplishments its work being of far-rcaching char actcr and it is not easily cited as that performed by other commercial or ganizations.
 To the Board of Supervisors, for their support: the Bank of Arizona for their generous use of these quarters free of charge: to the Prcsi- dent, the Board of Directors and members, The Journal-Alincr, the Courier, the Yavapai and in particu- ! lar ro the "standbys" of the organi- ration who have lent their assistance