F 610 TUCSON, ARIZONA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE v v c/' *-y University of California Berkeley Issued by tHe CHamber of Commerce Txicson, Arizona ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY TUCSON, ARIZONA. By ROCHESTER FORD. >UCSON lays claim to being one of the oldest settlements in the United States, ranking as to age next after San Augustine, Florida, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Its history can be traced back to 1649, when a military station was established by the Spaniards to protect the Mission of San Xavier. The merits of this claim of long descent have been called in question, but the fact [remains that it was settled at a very earl} r day, and its natural advantages are such that it was always an important trading point. Before the advent of the railroad, Tucson was almost as unknown and as remote from civilization as the interior of Africa. It was indeed a frontier town in all that those words import. But Tucson now is as different from Tucson in its frontier stage as the day is from night, or the gorgeous and bespangled butterfly from the chrysalis or grub. That period of her his- tory which might be termed the dark ages has passed. Warfare with the Apaches, and cruel- ties surpassing any tales of fiction, are among the experiences of the pioneers who are still living, but to the new-comers and the younger generation all this seems as far back in the past as the myths that are preserved only in folk-lore. The wild west is to be seen now only on the stage and in the comic papers. The frontier has disappeared with the buffalo, and Tucson is one of the most modern, progres- sive, prosperous and law-abiding cities to be found in the length and breadth of the land one which offers as many inducements as could be expected or desired, both to those who wish to engage in active business for the profit there is in it, and to those who may wish to rest and regain strength in a climate which is, without any exception, unequalled. When it is known that Tucson not only possesses its matchless climate, but is also one of the best business points in the southwest, it is no wonder that it has gone ahead by leaps and bounds. Just as sometimes in the large cities a tract of ground, barren, repelling, covered with hovels and surrounded by squalor, is taken for public use, and in an incredibly short time the houses are removed, the streets broadened, graded and paved, and, as though by a magician's wand, the land itself turned into a park or boulevard of entrancing beauty "a wilderness of har- mony," delighting the eye and quickening the soul, so Tucson in the last few years has been physically re-created and beautified. Adobe Reprinted from OUT WEST MAGAZINE for September, 1902. 4 Txicson, Arizona houses have been pulled down to give place to substantial brick building's. Crooked streets have been made straight and narrow ones no matter what the expense widened. Elegant residences have been built ; trees^have been planted and have grown in countless numbers, and private lawns and public parks refresh the eye. It is worthy of note that the improvements seem due to the natural and permanent advantages which Tucson has as a business point. The city has not been boomed by outsiders, nor is its progress due wholly to what is termed new blood. Local capital has been sufficient for increased de- mands, and the men who have lived in Tucson from the early day are fully imbued with the spirit of progress and have been the most important factors in the march of improvement. It is the citizens who have lived here for years who have built the most beautiful and costly residences, who conduct the largest business enterprises and who have been most prominent in the radical changes which have come over the city. A TUCSON STREET SCENE. This seems to be strong- evidence in support of the belief that Tucson is an excellent commercial point. A sudden spurt due to the investment of outside capital or the methods of those who make it a business to boom one place after another would be temporary and deceptive, but a steady and constant growth from within gives assurance of permanent prosperity. Tucson is not dependent on any one cause for her stability, and therefore is not in danger of seasons of depression. Where business rests mainly on mining operations, for instance, or on the success of one product, or on the water supply for irrigation purposes, the shutting down of the mines or the failure of the crop or the shortage of water in the canals will result immediately in curtailed business and hard times ; but Tucson has so many resources to draw from that its volume of trade cannot in any reasonable probability be seriously affected for any great length of time. Among other causes of advancement is the fact that it is the headquarters of the important division of the Southern Pacific Company from El Paso to Yuma. The company now employs 600 men at^Tucson, and these figures Txicson, Arizona 5 will be increased as soon as the extensive enlargements and improvements already decided on are completed. The geographical position of the city is such as to make it the headquarters for the mining and cattle industry of Southern Arizona. It is the great distributing point not only for a large part of the Territory, but for much of northern Sonora as well, and the tides of business will keep it what it has always been, the metropolis of Arizona. The population according to the best estimates, one of which is based on the fact that there are 2,400 school children in the district, is between 11,000 and 12,000. Of this number, perhaps one half are Mexicans. It should be borne in mind, however, that Tucson is strictly an American city. By this is meant that our Mexican friends do not hold themselves aloof, but are as wide awake in the march of progress as any citizens we THE NEW CARNEGIE LIBRARY AT TUCSON. have. No! race issues are raised, and the Americans and Mexicans freely intermingle without friction. Where '12,000 intelligent, active and well-to-do people are assembled, as a" matter of course there will be the agencies necessary for supplying their needs and 'desires. It is believed that Tucson is not only fully abreast commercially of any city of her size, but even in the lead in modern methods and instrumentalities. The first wealth is health, and a pure water supply is of paramount im- portance. This demand is met in the waterworks system owned and operated by the municipality. It is new and complete, comprising all necessary features of pumps, water-tower or stand-pipe, mains, etc. Hardly second in practical importance to the well-being of a city is its drainage and sewerage. In this, also, Tucson meets all requirements. An improved sewer system, planned by eastern experts who came to Tucson and thoroughly examined local conditions, has been installed. It, like the waterworks, is owned and operated by the municipality, so that the people have nothing to fear either from the neglect or extortion of a private corporation. From a mention of the most prominent business enterprises of Tucson Txicson, Arizona A PLEASANT ROAD NEAR TUCSON. it will be at once apparent that it is characterized by activity and prosperity. There are two national banks having 1 deposits aggregating a million and a quarter of dollars ; three building and loan associations (one of them being on record as the most successful in the United States) which loaned $175,000 in 1901 ; two daily newspapers receiving the Associated Press dispatches ; a complete local and long distance telephone service ; two modern ice works ; the same number of excellent and complete flouring Low WATER IN THE SANTA CKU/, RIVKK. Tucson, .Arizona 9 mills ; a number of hotels, one the new Williard, opened September 1, 1902, and another one, a modern and elegant building- to cost $100,000, now in course of erection and soon to be opened. The streets of the city are well kept and cleaned, and as a matter of course, the sidewalks are laid in cement. In speaking- in a comprehensive way of the business features of Tucson, the legal maxim that the mention of certain things is the exclusion of others does not apply. The reader should rather bear in mind that deep saying, peculiarly applicable to a cattle country, to which Jay Gould set the seal of his approval, that " the tail goes with the hide." It will be un- derstood, therefore, that the butcher and baker and candlestick maker, to- gether with other industries of minor character, are present in full force and effect, too numerous to mention. The growth of the city has been such as to attract attention, and busi- Two OF TUCSON'S CHURCHES. ness men have not been slow to avail themselves of the opportunities. The pursuit of the almighty dollar has been attended with success. All classes of business have done well. From the merchant to the day laborer, everyone willing to work has prospered financially. What stronger evidence could be given of the enterprise and stability of the city than the fact that there is now being installed by one of the banks a complete and strictly first-class safe deposit vault, or of its ac- tivity than the fact that the regulation of the speed of automobiles on the streets is agitated in the public press ? The intelligent reader cannot have failed to come to the conclusion that Tucson is not simply a "promising" place. That stage has long since been-passed, and it is now a well-ordered, prosperous and permanent com- mercial center, destined to be steadily carried ahead by the same causes 10 Txicson, Arizona that have made it what it is. There is no reason to believe that its full growth has been reached or approximated. Passing from a " bread and butter " consideration of the place, Tucson presents all the features of life without which mere commercial success would be inadequate. The Territory has always followed a large and liberal educational policy both as to public schools and higher institutions of learning, and Tucson may con- fidently present her schools as being up to the highest attain- able standard. Even in the comparatively early day, many years ago, the public school building was the largest and most expensive in the place, and the new schoolhouses erected in the past two years are, like all the late improve- ments of the city, designed and finished in accord with modern scientific requirements. The public schools are judiciously located in different parts of the city and are, in fact, of peculiar excellence and models of what such buildings should be. An academy and a parochial school are maintained by the Roman Catho- A COUPLE OF TUCSON BANKS. Txicson, Arizona 11 PIMA COUNTY COURT HOUSE. lie authorities, who also conduct an Orphan's Home. An Indian indus- trial training- school and farm have for many years been successfully managed by the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions. The chief feature of the educational system of the Territory is the Uni- versity of Arizona, situated at Tucson. It is located on a campus of 40 acres, commanding- at once a full view of the grand mountain ranges and also of the city. Its equipment comprises extensive buildings and all TUCSON CITY HALL. 12 Txzcson, Arizona necessary apparatus, and its courses of study are varied and such as to meet the needs of any student. The mining- course is planned with special reference to the need of the mining- engineer in Arizona or Mexico. The faculty is a strong- one, consisting- of twenty members, including graduates of all the leading universities. The equipment of the shops and laboratories is modern and complete, and the credentials of the univer- sity are accepted in place of examinations at all the leading universities and colleges. It is in all respects the equal of similar institutions in other Territories or States. Tucson affords the means of gratifying social, literary, religious and other needs. The various secret orders and benevolent societies have 35 lodges. A large, new opera house affords a suitable place for theatrical and other entertainment. The Carnegie library is a beautiful, well-con- structed building fully supplied with books, and conducted by the city ac- A TUCSON HOME. cording to the methods which have received the approval of library ex- perts. The Elks have a large brick clubhouse of their own, the finest of its kind in the Territory, furnished with the most artistic equipment pos- sible to be secured. The religious denominations are represented by Baptist, Congregational, Northern Methodist, Episcopal and Presbyterian churches. The Roman Catholic Cathedral is the largest in the Territory. Reference has been made to the matchless climate of Tucson. The greater part of the southwest, including western Texas, New Mexico, northern Sonora and Arizona, is a vast natural sanitarium, but among the many excellent resorts in this district, each having some features of merit, none surpasses Tucson. The word-artists have exhausted their skill in de- lineations of western life, and so many pen pictures have been drawn of the mountains, the clouds, the skies and the sunsets, that the reading pub- lic is familiar with such descriptions. But, after all is said and written, TYPES OF TUCSON RESIDENCES. 14 Tucson, Arizona the fact is that descriptions fall short. The reality surpasses the most am- bitious portrayal. The charm of the \vestern air and life is too elusive to be captured by words, and the blue of the sky, the purple haze of the mountains, the softness and kindness and peacefulness of the air, and the glories of dawn and sunset, remain indescribable. A very experienced traveler and impartial observer, Hon. Whitelaw Reid, wrote of Arizona as follows : " During- a five months' residence in southern Arizona in winter there was but one day when the weather made it actually unpleasant for me to take exercise in the open air at some time or other during- the day. Of course, there were a g-ood many days which a weather observer would describe as ' cloudy ' and some that were ' showery ' ; but during- the five months (from November, 1895, to May, 1896) there were only four days when we did not have brilliant sunshine at some time during the day. Even more than Egypt, anywhere north of Luxor, Arizona is the land of sunshine. A NEW SANITARIUM AT TUCSON. " The nights throughout the winter are apt to be cool enough for wood fires and blankets. Half the time an overcoat is not needed during the day, but it is never prudent for a stranger to be without one at hand. " The atmosphere is singularly clear, tonic and dry. I have never seen it clearer anywhere in the world. It seems to have about the same brac- ing and exhilarating qualities as the air of the great Sahara in northern Africa or of the desert about Mt. Sinai." The late Senator John J. Ingalls gave it as his opinion, that the " winter weather of Tucson is certainly incomparable." It is believed that the place possesses a combination of all the features which medical science has pronounced beneficial for ailments of the respiratory tract. The mountain ranges around the city inclose a vast amphitheater and mini- mize storms and sudden changes of temperature. The altitude is a mod- erate one, 2400 feet, giving rarity to the air without the dangers attending a greater height. The city is situated on a dry table land, with a minimum of humidity in the atmosphere. The days are bright and open, with the life-giving rays of the sun streaming down unchecked by clouds or fogs, and the beauty of the nights is not marred by dews. Almost every one sleeps out of doors during the summer months, and many persons follow this Tucson, .Arizona 15 Ax ORCHARD IN THE SANTA CRUZ VALLEY. practice the year around. The forces of the system are not used up in fighting- against cold and chill, but are reserved for building up the im- paired tissues, and the dr} r and balmy air helps not only by enabling in- valids to keep out of doors, but also, as it is thought, exerts a positive cura- tive effect. For these reasons the fame of Tucson's climate for lung sufferers has been steadily growing. Threatened or incipient cases of tuberculosis may confidently hope for improvement, but persons with cases far advanced GARDEN AND ORCHARD NEAR TUCSON. 16 Txicson, Arizona THE ELKS CLUB, TUCSON. will not be benefited here or elsewhere, and it cannot be too strongly urged that such persons should not come. In common with all resorts for pulmonary invalids, Tucson is awake to the necessity of making reasonable regulations to prevent the danger from infection from consumptives. The belief is prevalent that the disease may be communicated from one to another, and for the protection both of the invalids themselves and of our own citizens strict compliance with sanitary regulations is imperative. The Sisters of Mercy conduct a new hospital exclusively for persons suf- fering from lung troubles, and another large and completely appointed sanatorium is expected to be opened by winter.