Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-05-01

pectors climbed up into the Mule
Gulch, then veritable stronghold for
the fierce and bloodthirsty Apache,
faced the desert and the hardships and
privations of forbidding mountains,
constant battle has been waged. 1t
first was for mere existence, then for
the wealth hidden by nature in the
mountain hearts, for bearable condi-
tions, and then for the building OF
modern city, with the comforts ana
necessities that might be enjoyed in
the ordinary community. Generally
that battle has been waged with ma
ture and again with the unnatural
conditions for city growth that sur
round Douglas, Bisbee, Morenci and
most Of the other mining camps in the
state of Arizona
In the building Of city $500 feet
above sea level, in canyons and in
gulches and upon the sides of steep
hills and mountains, where nature fur
nished nothing to resemble site, con-
ditions were found not elsewhere en-
Observation-Disclosures met with which
other communities did not have to con-
tend lessons learned and profited by
to an extent that would discourage all
but the bravest and most persistent.
So it has been in Bisbee and so 1t is
that Bisbee stands out as monument
to the persistence, insistence, and the
indomitable will of man. So it is IN
almost every mining camp in the great
southwest.
1t is a source of continuous wonder
f.
ton and Morenci that in cities of their
size, regarded only as mining camps
there should be found department
stores housed and stocked in manner
which could be highly creditable to
communities of 100000 or more popu-
lation. Further inspection of the stores
and subsequent visits to them with re-
sulting understanding of how their
vast business is handled tends to fur
ther increase the surprise and wonder.
The stores are immense public utlllty
concerns and designed to furnish to
the people of the towns which they
serve the most desirable classes OF
merchandise and at the most reason
able prices. They perfectly fill the
purpose for which they are designed.
Demand for Stores.
Had the directors of the Phelps
Dodge corporation been able to fore
tell subsequent developments in Doug
las and in all of the other camps no
hesitancy would have attended the es-
tablishment of mercantile establish
ments and the building of railroads
and other transportation facilities
would have been undertaken before
development of the mine properties
But the life of any mining camp is
uncertain and the people of the Doug
las district have had ample example
during the past few years of the un-
certainty which attends profitable op-
GRAFTON of mining properties
In the early SOS the management of
the Copper Queen Mining company be-
came convinced that the interests or
the employees demanded, and should be
conserved by the establishment of
store where goods of class demand
ed and required might be obtained at
prices within bounds for the mine
worker. The individual merchant was
not generally in position to make
purchases in sufficient quantities to OBJ
tain goods at prices that were attrac-
tive to customers. Nor were qualities
of stocks carried always satisfactory.
1t was decided that store should be
opened to cure the evils complained of
by residents of the district at that
time. The wisdom of this plan is borne
out not only in Bisbee, but in every
other community where the Phelps
Dodge have opened stores. There has
been brought to the residents of these
districts merchandise of a quality and
selection which cannot be obtained in
cities of less than $4,000 or 100000
population The installation of these
stores has kept prices on. level with
communities where turnover and vol
ume are much larger than in these
districts.
Small Beginnings.
Having determined that a store was
required in Bisbee, Copper Queen offi-
cials took action at once. There was
in the camp a small store owned by
Mrs. Mary Crossey, and this was pur-
chased. Its location was on a portion
of the ground now occupied by the
Bisbee store in Bisbee. The direct
management of the store was placed in
charge of the late w. H. Brophy, who
had come to Bisbee but short time
before from Ireland and had entered
the employ of Mrs. Crossey as clerk.
Larger stocks of goods were pur-
chased for the new store and an ag
gressfve policy of ascertaining and an
ticipating the needs of the community
! was adopted. This struck a popular
i chord and the new store grew. From
this small beginning has grown the
great department store known as the
Phelps Dodge Mercantile company in
Bisbee From time to time enlarge
ments became necessary and the pres