Year: 1878

to be), but an agitation would be kept up that would ensure strict

 performance of mail contracts

 hereafter. When anything goes

 wrong with mails, full and numer-

 ous complaints, by letter, will al-

 ways secure relief.

 A source of much dIscussiOn at

 Signal is the supply of fuel. The

 monthly consumption by the mills

 and town is variously estimated

 at 750 to 1000 cords. The sur

 rounding country appears to be

 sparsely supplied with timber.

 Another ten-stamp mill is being

 negotiated for by company work

 ing the Palmetto, a claim adjoin-

 ing the McCrackin to the South.

 This mill would accelerate the

 consumption of fuel. The growth

 of timber in so dry a climate is

 too slow to enter into discussion.

 The fuel now used is chiefly d

 scrubby cedar, or juniper, grow

 ing in the neighboring mountains.

 It is delivered at S59 to $6 per cord. Looking the matter over calmly there seems to be no good reason for much anxiety on this subject. Timber is not abundant, l but at a diStancS at which it can be hauled for less than $10 per cord, there IS more than wood enough to reduce all the ore like ly to be extracted. Every mile added to the diameter of a circle drawn around Signal adds i'm mensely to the area of country from which wood can be obtained. Many little economies will be practised in the handling of cres that will more than offset increas= ing cost of wood; and it is only a matter of price to secure all the fuel that will ever be needed at Signal.

 A scarcity of cash money ob- tains, which seriously hampers retail business. The local eXpend- iture of the two companies must exceed $40,000 per month, and is made by their drafts against bull lion shipped to San Francisco. These drafts pass current for all local purposes, but being usually in amounts of a months pay or larger, are exceedingly inconve- nient for small transactions. For freights delivered at Aubrey the steamboat company will net re- ceive these drafts. Hence all the ! currency and coin Of the country have gone out for payments of freight bills. The evil has now become so serious that it must | soon rectify itself. Five per cent. is freely paid for exchange of | cash for drafts. This will soon cause the importation of Mexican dollars and other silver coin; and drafts will be forwarded for col- lection and remittance of pro- Ceeds, as should have been done long ago.

 The politics of Signal seem to be as mixed and lukeWarm as its religion. Many of the inhabit- ants will not have been in Arizo- na long enough before the cOm- ing election to be qualified to vote. Each of the four candidates for Congress (except WeOlsey) seems to have few warm partisans, but no considerable following. Itseems to be generally conceded, how sver, that Judge Porter is the only candidate who has ability, education, and social standing enough to properly represent Ari- sona. It is expected that Camp ( bell and Stevens will spend their | money as liberally at Signal as | hey are dong in other parts of he Territory. The people feel 8 very seriously the inconvenience # having to travel ninety-fve nlles in saddle or private vehicle + o transact business ar rhe county [