El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-06-25
F. NJ. MURPHY IS
CALLED BY DEATH
Arizona Railroad Builder,
Miner, Banker, Philan-
tnropist Dies.

Prescott, Ariz.. June zs.-With the
passing of Frank NJ. Murphy, at 2.
m. Sunday, Arizona loses one of the
greatest Of the builders Of her COM
monweaIth.. His health had been poor
for four years past, but his illness
was short and his death was consid-
cred prot able only within the past
few days He was a native of Maine,
aged So. an is survived by a wife
Frank Murphy came to Prescott in
1877, serving as a clerk in several of
the pioneer stores. After some politi-
cal experience. in 1883 he was a COM
missioner to the Denver mining ex-
position and went 10 New orleans
the following year in the same ca
pacity- In 1857 he interested the
noted Diamond Joe" Reynolds in the
Congress mine, in southwestern Iava-
PAL county. Necessity for transpor-
tation to this mine caused the build
ing of the Santa Fe. Prescott & Phoe-
nix railroad. financed by Reynolds
and number of capitalists associated
with the Santa Fe system. who placed
Murphy in geenral charge. He Sc
cured from the legislature a 20 year
exemption from taxation, after presi-
dent Harrison had vetoed a congress
sional act permitting local grant Of
a subsidy.
Organized Prescott Bank.
In 1898, Murphy organized the
Prescott National bank, Of which he
was president till 1910. He secured
extensions Of the Ash Fork-Phoenix
line into the Bradshaw mountains
and past Florence up the ella Aver
on route that was intended to give
the Santa Fe system a new outlet
eastward, by way Of FL PasO- In this
last effort he failed. for the line in
1907 was absorbed by the Southern
Pacific, east of Phoenix Murphy
planned also a railroad connection
with the Gulf Of California from his
Red Rock-Silver Bell mining railroad,
but this never got beyond location
surveys.
Forms Mining Corporation.
About Is years ago, Murphy organ
lied the Development Company OF
America, which took control Of the
Congress. the Poland mines in the
Bradshaw mountains, the Imperial
mines, smelter and railroad, west Of
Tucson, and the famous bonanza
mines at Tombstone. The latter
proved white elephant. though
deep shaft was driven at a cost OF
daily pumping Of 100000 gallons OF
water
After the expenditure Of $4,000. 600.
disaster to the pumps caused the
closing down Of the Tombstone mines
and failure TO all the Murphy mining
interests, in June, 1909.
Gave Literally to City.
Mr. Murphy was man OF the
largest local patriotism He built a
home for the Tavapai club in Prescott
and provided = geological garden and
park for the city with a scenic drive.
all at his own expense. At Phoenix
Tor about Il years he controlled the
Arizona Republican. At Castle Hot
Springs he built a handsome tourist
hotel and established a winter re-
sort that he owned to the day Of his
death and in which he took great
pride. He was active in politics as a
Republican Of the conservative sort
and contributed heavily TO the party's
funds. of attractive personality. COM
bined with fOrceful business and ad-
ministrative ability, he is said to have
brought into Arizona for investment
more money than any other Arizinan.
A brother. Nathanial Cakes Murphy.
now deceased, twice was governor OF
Arizona in territorial days