Days of Long Ago...

THE EARLY annals of every community in the west are generally of intense interest to those who come after the pioneers. It is a human characteristic to desire to know something of the past in which one lives to be familiar, in a general way, with the events and incidents that go to make up its pioneer history. It is said that patriotism means love of country, but love of country is really nothing more than a deep and heartfelt admiration for its history and a keen and ready knowledge of its legends and traditions. Without a knowledge of its history, love of country cannot generally exist; and that history commences with the annals of one's own community.

The story of olden Phoenix is by no means prosaic; it contains much that is of lively interest - much that borders on the unusual and romantic; and it is inextricably entwined with the history of the Salt River Valley, a great agricultural empire. In a more remote and indirect way it is also "tied in" with the story of the discovery and operation of

TURNING THE PAGES BACK IN THE HISTORY OF PHOENIX AND WATCHING A WILD FRONTIER TOWN GROW INTO A GREAT CITY BY JAMES M. BARNEY

the Vulture mine, a famous gold producer of early Arizona. The Vulture gold deposit was discovered by Henry Wickenburg about November 1, 1863, and formally located on November 24, of that year. The fact that for years the stamp-mill of the Vulture was located on the Hassayampa-a short distance above Wickenburg and some 14 miles from the mine necessitated the hauling by teams and wagons of all the ore treated by the mill. The great amounts of hay and grain necessary to feed the hundreds of animals used in this ore-hauling and other freighting enterprises and the immense quantities of supplies essential for the proper care of the ever-increasing population around Wickenburg and the Vulture mine, presented serious economic problems in Arizona of that day. Money was free and plentiful, but grain and provisions were exceedingly scarce and difficult to obtain. Under the best conditions, distant freighting was carried on at great expense and much delay, while transportation rates were high beyond belief. Thoughtful and forward-looking pioneers had long recognized the fact that Arizona's future depended to a great extent upon the ability of its farmers struggling against rough and primitive conditions and wild Apache Indians to produce on home soil most of the food-stuffs consumed or needed by its population. In the face of such a situation, it is not to be wondered at that the more enterprising Wickenburg citizens commenced to look about them for a chance to settle upon lands where they could raise hay and grain and other farm products for the ready and waiting Vulture and Wickenburg markets. It can, therefore, be said, that the rapidly increasing demands for the staple commodities around the Wickenburg country, led to the white settlement of the great Salt River Valley which had lain uncultivated for countless centuries a vast stretch of sun-scorched desert

Land, over which silence and desolation had long part of Township 1 North, Range 3 East, which River Valley can well be designated as the reigned supreme. was called the "Phoenix Settlement." A des founders of the present City of Phoenix.

It was in the month of December, 1867, that cription of this pioneer community by United To carry out its plans, the Salt River Valley John W. (Jack) Swilling started from the little States government surveyors on March 28, Town Association selected by majority vote settlement of Wickenburg, on the Hassayampa, 1868, is as follows: three "Townsite Commissioners" from among for the Salt River Valley, to excavate canals its members. The first settlers to be thus hon and "acequias" and thus bring water upon its "A settlement called Phoenix was formed ored were John T. Alsap, James Murphy and fertile but thirsty acres. in the northeast part of the township (TownJoseph C. Perry. Alsap became Chairman, and ship 1 North, Range 3 East) during the winter Captain William A. Hancock, Secretary, of this of 1867 and 1868. It contains about 50 perfirst governing body.

The Swilling Party consisted of the followsons who have displayed great energy in the ing individuals: Peter Burns, Brian P. D. construction of their 'Irrigation Ditches' and The townsite was laid out by Captain Han Duppa, Thomas J. L. Hoague, John Larson, the clearing of their land and will this year cock, a surveyor, and the first lots were sold Frank S. Metzler, Thomas McGoldrick, An(1868) bring under cultivation a large extent on December 23 and 24, 1870. William J. tonio Moreas, Ludovic Vandermark, of country. The settlement, though young. Berry, of Prescott, purchased the first lot Chapman, Jacob Denslinger, James Lee, P. L. bears every evidence of thrift and prosperity." on the southwest corner of First and Washing (Jack) Walters, Thomas McWilliams, Michael ton Streets.

Then, as the population and area of culThe first building constructed on the town tivated land increased, it became very evident site (Hancock's Store) was an adobe structure that a suitable site for a town would have to which was completed in February, 1871, and be selected somewhere in the valley. After was located on the northwest corner of First much agitation and discussion-friendly and (then Montezuma) and Washington Streets. otherwise a site was finally chosen at a mass In this primitive building William M. Smith meeting held on October 20, 1870, at the home opened to the public in the summer of 1871, of John Moore, a widely known farmer of the the first general store, and James P. (Pete) valley. The land selected embraced the north Holcomb started in the fall of that same year half of Section 8, Township 1 North, Range 3 -the first butcher shop. Here also were first East, and contained 320 acres. In present-day located the county offices and from the same Phoenix this area is called the "Original Townplace were conducted the affairs of the Phoe site" and practically forms the business section nix Townsite. Thus, in its day, Hancock's Store of the City-being bounded on the north by Van was the civic center of olden Phoenix.

Upon reaching the valley, Swilling and his companions immediately began the slow and laborious task of digging a main canal to divert and control some of the water that flowed in Salt River (called in pioneer days both "Rio Salinas" and "Rio Salado"). This first diver sion canal was generally known as the Swill ing Ditch. Ground was broken for cultivation in the early part of 1868, and water for irriga tion became available about March of that same year, enabling a few of the settlers to harvest slender crops of corn, barley, pumpkins and other vegetables during the following summer months.

The success of these pioneer farmers soon became known in other parts of the country and brought an ever-increasing number of set tlers to the valley. A cluster of shacks and temporary shelters sprang up in the northeast Maricopa County was created on February 14, 1871, and at an election held on May 1st, of that year, Phoenix was chosen as the County Seat.

John J. Gardiner was the first hotel keeper, building and operating the "Phoenix Hotel"

This group of pioneer ranchers and businessmen-full of faith in the future of the Salt East, and contained 320 acres. In present-day Phoenix this area is called the "Original Town site" and practically forms the business section of the City-being bounded on the north by Van Buren Street; on the east by Seventh Street; on the south by Jackson Street and on the west by Seventh Avenue. The name "Phoenix" was chosen for the townsite at the suggestion of Brian Phillip Darrell Duppa, an Englishman of good family and extensive education, who also influenced the naming of our sister city of "Tempe."