At this time there was not an inhabitant on Salt River where Phoenix now stands, and the Salt River Valley was a desolate and abandoned waste. It had been occupied some thousands of years ago by a race who cultivated the land by irrigation, and built houses and cities which have gone to ruin. The most diligent search has developed but few evidences of the extent of their civilization. They had not advanced very far, as they left no relics of either iron, copper, or steel. The land in cultivation would have supported a population of from fifty to a hundred thousand souls.
It is an excusable ambition for a man, especially in the Western country, to desire the honor of representing his State or Territory in Congress.
It was necessary to cross the deserts to San Francisco, and thence via Panama to New York and Washington.
I had scarcely taken my seat, when a distinguished-looking gentleman (Roscoe Conkling) came up and introduced himself, saying in a very pompous way:
"I observe you have drawn a front seat,—and as I presume you do not wish to debate, I shall feel very much obliged if you will have the courtesy to exchange seats with me."
I replied, "With the greatest pleasure, sir," and took a back seat, more becoming to my station.
In a few days the chairman of the Committee on Mileage came around to my seat, and said, "Poston, how is this?—your mileage is $7,200, and mine is only $300."
I replied, "Frank, what is the price of whisky in your district?"
He said, "About two dollars and a half per gallon."
"Well," I said, "it is fifteen dollars a gallon in Arizona—that equalizes the mileage."