ance in reality. There are one or two private residences that are quite respectable, some taste being displayed in their construction. There is but one brick building, erected expressly for the printing office of the "Arizona Miner," a semioccasional paper that claims to be supporting no particular party, but professes to be open to all. As to the rest of the town, there are eight or nine stores, all in plain board shanties, with the exception of the building occupied by the Messrs. Bowers, which is constructed of adobe, and is, by far, the most commodious building Prescott can boast of. "The present merchants are Gray & Co., also of San Francisco and La Paz; Campbell & Buffum, a branch of the Los Angeles firm; Mr. Hardy has a large store here, well stocked with hardware, and Wormser & Co. appear to have a pretty good business. After these, one or two small traders, three or four small drinking saloons, a hotel and a restaurant may be said to comprise the entire business of the place. "Of public buildings there are none, except an old log building used as a courthouse and for sundry other purposes, too numerous to mention. We have no jail. That is speaking well for the morals of the community; and no church, perhaps that speaks the other way, but I am not quite sure. The courthouse answers the purpose very well, with a lager beer saloon attached. This useful courthouse is situated on one side of what is termed the 'Plaza,' a large quadrangle, that looks green and pleasant in the summer. A large flagstaff graces the same, from which floats the Star Spangled Banner. Granite Creek comprises the rest of the town, which is below the Plaza on the north. As is usual, the houses on the lower side are built a little too near the stream, and are in danger of being washed away during freshets. "The Governor's residence is on the opposite side of the creek, and is by far the most substantial private dwelling in Prescott. Fort Whipple is situated a little over one mile from town, and is a substantial adobe structure, and is, at present, occupied by a detachment of the 14th Infantry, commanded by Captain Krautz. "I had almost omitted to mention what I consider one of the most useful institutions in Prescott, "The Arizona Historical & Pioneer Association.' This association was incorporated two years ago by an act of the Legislature of Arizona, as 'The Arizona Historical Association,' for the purpose of collecting and preserving the war relics and evidences of a very remote civilization that abound in the Territory. They have established a library and reading-room, which is well supported by both home and foreign papers, farmers' periodicals, and a few standard works. The shelves contain several specimens of the rich and various minerals found in the Territory of Arizona. There are some curious relics from the past, and it will, some day, be a valuable collection." The Arizona Historical Society had only a brief existence. After the removal of the capitol from Prescott, it was abandoned, probably for want of supplies. Prescott, about this time, was a very lively place, typically western. Those who had money shared with those who were impoverished. No need for anyone to go hungry who had any snap or energy. Every man packed his own arsenal. Many of them were crack shots. Neri Osborn speaks of two expert shots, Leroy Jay and Tom May, whose custom it was, after imbibing quite freely, to step off about ten or fifteen paces, and put a pine burr on the top of one of their heads, which the other would shoot off, and then they would do the same thing over, the other fellow doing the shooting. In 1866 they were hauling ore for Bill Behrens, and the Indians jumped them and killed them. Mr. Osborn says: "There was a great deal of killing in the early days, but it was not as people generally imagine it. It was not done in a spirit of mischief, but usually where two fellows had a grievance, and decided to fight it out." One of the early comers to Prescott was Ben H. Weaver, who came to that city with Secretary McCormick upon the latter's return to Arizona from a visit to California, in 1865. Mr. Weaver was born in Palmyra, Michigan, in 1837. When he was fourteen years of age he was apprenticed to the printer's trade, and was connected with Michigan newspapers for about four years. He tried farming in Illinois for about three years, and then returned to Michigan. In the year 1859 he started with horse teams with the intention of going to Pike's Peak, but changed his plans and kept on through to California. 1860 he went to Virginia City, Nevada, but returned to California and, in 1861, enlisted in the California Volunteers, being assigned to the quartermaster's department, and travelling In |