Clifton, Arizona: A Once-Tough Mining Camp
Lead
LEAD: Clifton, Arizona, was a notoriously violent mining camp in 1883 before becoming a quiet, orderly community by 1891 [1][2].
Clifton in 1883 was considered the toughest town America had produced [2]. During that period, many men lost their lives traveling to or from the settlement, and anyone who resisted was killed [3]. By 1891, however, Clifton had transformed into one of the West's most quiet and orderly camps [1]. That year, Jacob Abraham moved his family from Clifton to Silver City for public schooling [4], and J. Riedlinger planned a bottling plant there [5].
Sources
- Clifton is today one of the most quiet and… (1891)Clifton is today one of the most quiet and orderly camps in the west. It is also one of the best.
- The writer has seen a good many tough… (1891)The writer has seen a good many tough towns, but has no hesitancy in saying that America never produced a tougher one than Clifton in ’83. Such a state of affairs as de- scribed of course could not last long, …
- ti did, many a man lost his life in going to or… (1891)ti did, many a man lost his life in going to or returning from Clifton. It was impossible to dodge them; they were everywhere, and the man who resisted or made a fuss about it after- wards, was killed.
- Jacob Abraham, of Clifton, will soon move… (1891)Jacob Abraham, of Clifton, will soon move his family to this city in order to give his chil- dren the benefit of our public schools.
- J… (1891)J. Riedlinger will establish a bottling plant at Hillsboro and Clifton. J. Riedlinger, Jr., will conduct the Hillsboro branch, while an expert from St. Louis will run the Clifton establishment.