HISTORICAL SKETCH (FIRST ENTRY, P. 63) HIGH SCHOOL, 1 AND IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR BONDS IN THE SUM OF $2000 WERE 154 SUED FOR A SCHOOL BUILDING AT SOPORI SCHOOL DISTRICT AND $4000 FOR A BUILDING AT SONOITA.2 IN JULY 1916, THE STATE LEGISLATURE APPROPRIATED $41,000 FOR THE EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY,3 THERE WERE NO FURTHER BOND ISSUES FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES IN THE COUNTY UNTIL 1929 WHEN BONDS FOR $5000 WERE ISSUED FOR A SCHOOL BUILDING IN TUBAC4 AND $15,000 FOR A BUILDING AT CALABASAS.5 FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR ENDING JUNE 1938, ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN 14 SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAD AN ENROLLMENT OF 2,062 PUPILS WITH 62 TEACHERS. THE TWO HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTY, AT NOGALES AND PATAGONIA, HAD 10 TEACHERS AND 371 PUPILS. OF THE 2,433 PUPILS ENROLLED IN SCHOOLS IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, 1,644 WERE OF FOREIGN EXTRACTION, MAINLY MEXICAN. THE VALUE OF ALL SCHOOL EQUIPMENT FOR THE YEAR 1938 WAS $373,000. IN 1940 THERE WERE 18 SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH A TOTAL ENROLLMENT OF 1,949 PUPILS, AND THE TWO HIGH SCHOOLS WITH AN ENROLLMENT OF 398 PUPILS.7 PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE WHILE STILL A PART OF PIMA COUNTY, SANITARY AND HEALTH CONDITIONS IN THE SANTA CRUZ AREA ALONG THE MEXICAN BORDER BECAME A GREAT PROBLEM TO COUNTY OFFICIALS. IN 1866 GREAT FEAR WAS FELT THAT CHOLERA WOULD AGAIN MAKE ITS APPEARANCE IN THE UNITED STATES, THE DISEASE HAVING BEEN REPORTED AT SAN ANTONIO.8 UNDER TERRITORIAL LAWS NO PROVISIONS WERE MADE FOR ES TABLISHING QUARANTINE MEASURES. DR. GEORGE GOODFELLOW WAS APPOINTED BY EXCEEDING $125 PER MONTH.10 IN 1894 THE BID OF DR. W. F. CHENOWETH FOR $8.50 PER MONTH FOR SUPPLYING MEDICAL AND SURGICAL AID TO THE INDIGENT SICK OF NOGALES WAS 1. RECORD, VOL. 4, PP. 186, 192. 2. 1810., P. 546. 3. 4. IBID., P. 468. IBID., VOL. 5, P. 869. 5. 1810., P. 804. 6. STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, FOURTEENTH BIENNIAL REPORT, PP. 178, 179, 212, 216. 7. STATE SUPERINTENDENT PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, EDUCATIONAL REPORT, 1939-40. PIMA MINUTES, VOL. 1, P. 14. 8. 9. R. S. 1887, PAR. 397, SEC. 19, P. 128. HISTORICAL SKETCH (FIRST ENTRY, P. 63) 1 ACCEPTED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF PIMA COUNTY. FOLLOWING THE CHOLERA SCARE, SMALLPOX EPIDEMICS BROKE OUT ALONG THE MEXICAN BORDER. IN ORDER TO CONTROL THE EPIDEMIC, PIMA COUNTY MAINTAINED SMALLPOX HOSPITALS AT NOGALES AND ARIVACA.2 IN 1897, DR. CHENOWETH, THEN COLLECTOR OF CUS TOMS IN NOGALES, PETITIONED THE COUNTY FOR QUARANTINE MEASURES BUT PIMA COUNTY WAS UNABLE TO BEAR THE EXPENSE OF ESTABLISHING A QUARANTINE AT NOGALES.3 IN JANUARY 1899 THE PIMA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ORDERED THE COUNTY PHYSICIAN TO OBTAIN 1,000 VACCINE TUBES TO VACCINATE ALL CHILDREN OF SCHOOL AGE OUTSIDE OF TUCSON AND NOGALES AT FIFTY CENTS PER CHILD, THE BOARD AGREEING TO SUPPLY THE VACCINE TO TUCSON AND NOGALES. 4 AS A PRECAUTION AGAINST CONTRACTION AND SPREAD OF SMALLPOX AMONG EMPLOYEES OF THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY, A GENERAL ORDER WAS ISSUED FROM COMPANY HEADQUARTERS REQUESTING ALL TO BE VACCINATED.5 AFTER SANTA CRUZ COUNTY WAS CREATED IN 1899 THE SITUATION CONTINUED TO BE GRAVE. MR. EB. WILLIAMS, A RESIDENT OF NOGALES, APPEARED BEFORE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN AND PRESENTED A DEMAND FOR $750 TO COVER ONE-HALF 6 OF THE EXPENSES OF THE SMALLPOX EPIDEMICS. THE SITUATION BECAME MANAGEABLE IN 1902 WHEN DR. H. W. PURDY WAS APPOINTED COUNTY PHYSICIAN AND DR. CHENOWETH OFFERED HIS SERVICES FOR MEDICAL AND SURGICAL CARE FOR THE INDIGENT SICK OF NOGALES PRECINCT AND OFFERED TO MAKE ALL AUTOPSIES REQUIRED BY THE CORONER, EXAMINE ALL ALLEGED INSANE PERSONS, AND REPORT THEREON WHEN REQUIRED BY THE PROBATE COURT, FOR $15 PER MONTH.8 IN 1915, THE COMMUNITY WAS VISITED BY THE COMMON FLY. CAPTAIN M. L. MCDIAMID, OF THE ARMY MEDICAL CORPS, URGED THE TOWN OF NOGALES TO COOPERATE WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND AID THE MILITARY AUTHORITIES IN AN ACTIVE AND IMMEDIATE CAMPAIGN AGAINST FLIES.9 THE INTERNATIONAL SANITARIUM ASSOCIATION WAS GIVEN A CONTRACT BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON SEPTEMBER 25, 1899, FOR THE CARE OF THE SICK AND INJURED INDIGENTS FOR SANTA CRUZ COUNTY AT $2.35 PER DAY PER CAPITA TO INCLUDE HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATIONS, FOOD, MEDICINE, NURSING, MEDICAL AND SURGICAL CARE.10 IN RECENT YEARS, HEALTH AND WELFARE MATTERS HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED BY THE COUNTY MEDICAL AND WELFARE OFFICES WHICH ARE DESCRIBED IN PART B OF THIS BOOK. TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION THE FIRST MEANS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN THE AREA NOW INCLUDED IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY WAS THE BUTTERFIELD STAGE LINE. ESTABLISHED IN AUGUST HISTORICAL SKETCH (FIRST ENTRY, P. 63) 1858 THIS LINE CARRIED MAIL AND PASSENGERS OVER A ROUTE EXTENDING FROM MARSHALL, TEXAS, TO SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. A BRANCH STAGE OPERATED FROM FORT BUCHANAN TO TUBAC, AND IN 1859 ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE FOR A WEEKLY MAIL TO AND FROM SONORA.1 THE EARLIEST RAILROAD IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY WAS THE NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA RAILROAD, THE "BURRO LINE", A BRANCH OF THE SANTA FE COMPLETED IN 1882, EXTENDING FROM BENSON SOUTH TO FORT CRITTENDEN.2 IN 1888 THE SONORA RAILROAD WAS BUILT FROM GUAYMAS, MEXICO NORTH TO THE VICINITY OF NOGALES, AND FROM THE NORTH THE NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA RAILROAD WAS EXTENDED TO THE INTERNATIONAL BORDER.3 MORE RECENTLY, A BRANCH LINE OF THE SOUTHERN PA CIFIC RAILROAD WAS BUILT FROM TUCSON ALONG THE SANTA CRUZ RIVER TO NOGALES, CONNECTING WITH THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC OF MEXICO OVER THE INTERNATIONAL LINE AT NOGALES, MAINTAINING DAILY TRAIN SERVICE TO MEXICO CITY AND OTHER POINTS IN THE INTERIOR. A SOUTHERN PACIFIC BRANCH FROM FAIRBANK ON THE MAIN LINE SERVICES ELGIN, SONOITA AND PATAGONIA. SANTA CRUZ COUNTY IS TRAVERSED BY TWO MAIN HIGHWAYS. UNITED STATES HIGHWAY 89 ENTERS THE COUNTY FROM THE NORTH AND EXTENDS TO THE INTERNATIONAL LINE, FROM WHICH POINT THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT MAINTAINS A ROAD TO THE INTERIOR OF MEXICO. THE OTHER MAJOR HIGHWAY IN THE COUNTY IS STATE HIGHWAY 82, WHICH ENTERS THE COUNTY AT THE EXTREME NORTHEAST CORNER AND FOLLOWS THE OLD MINING ROAD THROUGH PATAGONIA AND SONOITA TO NOGALES. THIS ROAD JOINS THE TRANSCONTINENTAL U. S. HIGHWAY 80, "THE BROADWAY OF AMERICA", FOUR MILES ABOVE TOMBSTONE. SANTA CRUZ COUNTY IS SERVED BY TWO BUS LINES, THE NOGALES-BISBEE BUS LINES OPERATING BETWEEN NOGALES AND BISBEE. THE CITIZEN AUTO STAGES OPERATING BETWEEN TUCSON AND NOGALES MAKE AVAILABLE NATION-WIDE BUS SERVICE CONNECTIONS. AIRPLANE SERVICE IS AVAILABLE AT THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AT NOGALES FOR TRIPS INTO THE INTERIOR OF MEXICO. IN 1904 TELEPHONE SERVICE WAS INAUGURATED IN THE COUNTY WHEN E. E. BETHEL WAS GIVEN A FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT TELEPHONE LINES ALONG THE COUNTY ROAD FROM NOGALES TO PATAGONIA BY WAY OF WASHINGTON CAMP.4 IN 1916 THE BOARD GRANTED THE LA OSA TELEPHONE COMPANY A FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE LINES TO AMADOVILLE AND ORO BLANCO.5 LATER THAT YEAR A FRANCHISE WAS GRANTED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF TELEPHONE LINES BETWEEN NOGALES AND PATAGONIA AND FROM PATAGONIA TO HARSHAW AND TO THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY-COCHISE COUNTY LINE.6 IN 1939 THERE WERE 372 RESIDENTIAL PHONES IN THE COUNTY.7 7. OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT REPORTS, COUNTY REPORT OF FEDERAL EXPENDITURES, HISTORICAL SKETCH (FIRST ENTRY, P. 63) AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION OCCUPYING AN AREA ALMOST AS LARGE AS THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, SANTA CRUZ COUNTY LIES PRINCIPALLY IN THE VALLEY OF THE SANTA CRUZ RIVER. THE COMPARATIVELY FLAT STREAM VALLEYS OF SILT AND CLAY LOAM CONSTITUTE THE MAIN FARMING SECTION OF THE AREA WITH INTERVENING AND ADJACENT AREAS OF DESERT AND GRAZING LANDS. ALTITUDES IN THE VALLEY RANGE FROM 3,110 TO 3,700 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL.1 CULTIVATION OF THE SOIL IN THE SANTA CRUZ VALLEY CAN BE TRACED BACK FARMING COMMUNITY.3 WHEN THE PRESIDIO WAS MOVED FROM TUBAC TO TUCSON IN THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IN PREVENTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURE IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY WAS DEFECTIVE LAND TITLES TO THE UPPER SANTA CRUZ VALLEY FROM TUBAC TO CALABASAS.7 THE TRACT, KNOWN AS BACA FLOAT NO. 3, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA GENERAL BULLETIN NO. 3, VOL. VII, ARIZONA AND UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY AND HERBERT EUGENE BOLTON, RIM OF CHRISTENDOM, PP. 497, 498. THE PAPAGO COUNTRY, PP. 371, 372. JOHN RUSSELL BARTLETT, PERSONAL NARRATIVE OF EXPLORATIONS AND EXPERI- 6. MOWRY, OP. CIT., PP. 47, 48. 7. UNITED STATES CONGRESS, 69TH, 1ST SESSION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE HISTORICAL SKETCH (FIRST ENTRY, P. 63) WAS ORIGINALLY HELD BY LUIS BACA UNDER AN OLD SPANISH LAND GRANT IN 1863. IN 1864 THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR REFUSED TO ISSUE PATENTS TO THE BACA HEIRS, CLAIMING THE LAND WAS MINERAL. FOR SEVERAL YEARS AFTER 1899, 39 SETTLERS HOMESTEADED LAND CLAIMED UNDER THIS GRANT AND SEVERAL OF THEM RECEIVED PATENTS, IN 1914 THE SUPREME COURT DECIDED IN FAVOR OF THE BACA HEIRS AND IN 1917 THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT AT TUCSON GAVE AN EVICTION DECISION AGAINST THE SETTLERS, CAUSING THEM TO LEAVE THE FARMS THEY HAD HOMESTEADED.1 WATER TO IRRIGATE SOME OF THE ARID LAND OF THE VALLEY WAS RECEIVED THROUGH "FARMERS' DITCH", A COMMUNITY DITCH OWNED BY FARMERS HAVING IRRIGABLE LANDS. FLOODS FROM THE SANTA CRUZ RIVER, THE STREAM WHICH SUPPLIED WATER FOR "FARMERS' DITCH", WASHED OUT THE HEAD OF THE DITCH IN THE SUMMER OF 1892, CAUSING HEAVY CROP LOSSES.2 ONE PROJECT DESIGNED TO IRRIGATE 20,000 ACRES PROVED TO HAVE ENOUGH WATER FOR ONLY 5,000 ACRES.3 AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CENTURY, MUCH OF THE LAND NEAR NOGALES, CALABASAS, PATAGONIA, CRITTENDEN, AND LOCHIEL WAS UNDER IRRIGATION, THE WATER SUPPLY BEING DERIVED FROM THE SONOITA AND SANTA CRUZ RIVERS. ONE OF THE LARGEST IRRIGATION PROJECTS IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY AT THIS TIME WAS THE CALABASAS IRRIGATION LAND AND WATER COMPANY, WHERE WATER FOR THE CANAL TAKEN FROM THE SONOITA AND SANTA CRUZ RIVERS WAS DIVERTED BY THREE OR FOUR TEMPORARY DAMS INTO A 12-MILE LONG MAIN CANAL. THE COST OF THIS SYSTEM WAS $10,000 AND $3,000 ACRES WERE BROUGHT UNDER IRRIGATION. THE SUPPLY WAS NOT SUFFICIENT HOWEVER FOR THE LAND ALREADY UNDER DITCH, IT WAS ESTIMATED IN 1901 THAT BY THE EXPENDITURE OF $25,000 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF DAMS TO IMPOUND FLOOD WATER, 10,000 ACRES COULD BE BROUGHT UNDER CULTIVATION.4 IN 1903 IT WAS CLAIMED THAT BY MEANS OF A WATER STORAGE SYSTEM AT LEAST 75% OF THE LAND IN THE SANTA CRUZ VALLEY FROM NOGALES, ON THE INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY LINE, TO SACATON, ON THE GILA RIVER, COULD BE RECLAIMED.5 SOON AFTER THE CREATION OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY THE CITIZENS BECAME COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT IF THE COUNTY WERE TO ADVANCE COMMERCIALLY PLANS WOULD BE NECESSARY TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES OF WATER FOR THE LAND. E. D. MILLER AND ALLEN T. BIRD WERE SENT AS DELEGATES TO THE ELEVENTH NATIONAL IRRIGATION CONGRESS AT OGDEN, UTAH. MEASURES WERE TAKEN BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO SECURE RELIABLE DATA ON ELIGIBLE WATER STORAGE RESERVOIR SITES IN THE RESPECTIVE COUNTIES. THIS DATA WAS TO BE LAJD BEFORE THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR AS A MEANS OF SECURING AID FROM THE NATIONAL IRRIGATION FUND TO AID IN THE RECLAMATION OF LAND.6 1. 2. 3. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY AND ARIZONA REPORTS, TERRITORY OF ARIZONA FROM 1896 TO 1898 (SAN FRANCISO, UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, GENERAL BULLETIN NO. 3, VOL. VII, No. 3, ARIZONA AND ITS HERITAGE, PP. 42, 43. REPORT OF GOVERNOR OF ARIZONA TO THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, 1901, P. 48. 4. 5. IBID., 1903, PP. 77, 78. 6. RECORD, VOL. 1, PP. 449-452, 488. |