12th Arizona Territorial Legislature

Session of the Arizona Territorial Legislature (1883) February 2026 January 2025 12th January 8, 1883 12 Edwin H. Wiley 24 Winthrop A. Rowe 11th 13th The 12th Arizona Territorial Legislative Assembly was a session of the Arizona Territorial Legislature which convened on January 8, 1883, in Prescott, Arizona Territory.McClintock 1916 372 Background Lawlessness was rampant across sections of the territory. While the Apache Wars were largely over, "cowboy" troubles in and around Cochise county had resulted in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and Arizona War. Added to this issue was banditry along the Mexican border and sporadic Indian uprisings.Goff 1978 81 As a result of these and other issues, President Chester A. Arthur had accepted John C. Frémont's resignation and appointed Frederick Augustus Tritle as Governor of Arizona Territory.Goff 1978 88 To deal with the outlaws, Tritle had requested permission to create a group of Arizona Rangers, modeled upon the Texas Rangers, but been denied authorization from the U.S. Congress.Goff 1978 89 The other big issue of the day was progress on bringing the railroads to the territory. The Southern Pacific Railroad had completed building across the southern portion of Arizona while the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad was preparing to build across the northern part of the territory.Wagoner 1970 203 Legislative session The session began on January 8, 1883. Governor's address Governor Frederick Augustus Tritle gave his address to the session at 7:30 pm on January 9, 1883.Goff 1978 89 In regards to the criminal activity in the southern sections of the territory he said, "The recent feuds in Cochise County make it incumbent upon, not only officials, but all good citizens as well, to take such positive measures as will speedily rid this section of that murderous, thieving element which has made up a reproach before the world, as so seriously retarded the industry and progress of our country."Wagoner 1970 203 Much of the speech emphasized Arizona's future opportunities and sought ways to develop the territory's natural resources.Wagoner 1970 202Goff 1978 89 The governor highlighted the facts that mine production was increasing, transportation infrastructure improving, and an ample supply of timber was available to harvest.Goff 1978 89 To insure adequate future supplies, Tritle asked for restrictions on the export of timber from Arizona.Wagoner 1970 202 To ensure needed access to water, the governor requested federal funds for construction of artesian wells.Goff 1978 89 He also asked for a survey of mineral springs in the hope that some would be found to have therapeutic value.Wagoner 1970 203 In other matters, Tritle called for recreation of the territorial attorney general position, revision of voter registration laws, and reapportionment of the territorial legislature.Goff 1978 89–90 Finally, to end the need of sending mentally ill residents to California, the governor called for building a territorial insane asylum.Goff 1978 90 Legislation Upon the advice of Governor Tritle, the session issued a memorandum thanking President Chester A. Arthur for his assistance dealing with lawless elements in and around Cochise County.Wagoner 1970 204 They then prohibited carrying a deadly weapon within town boundaries in Apache and Graham counties.Wagoner 1970 204 The position of territorial attorney general was recreated during the session.McClintock 1916 333 Meanwhile, Maricopa and Graham counties were given permission to each build a jail and courthouse.Wagoner 1970 204 Dealing with the territory's organization, the section of Yavapai County north of the Colorado River and west of Kanab Creek was transferred to Mohave County.McClintock 1916 333 The territorial capital, Prescott, was incorporated.Wagoner 1970 204 The seat of Graham County was moved to Solomonville.McClintock 1916 333 In other matters, the territorial bullion tax was repealed. Before session all members of the legislature who had expressed an opinion had opposed its repeal. Despite this the legislation made it through both houses without trouble.McClintock 1916 333 Finally, the session authorized a US$500 prize for the person who could produce, in 1883, the largest cotton yield on a 5 acre ha parcel with a stipulation that a minimum yield of 200 lb kg per acre was required for the prize.Wagoner 1970 204 The prize was claimed by Felix G. Hardwick of Tempe who had produced 3390 lb kg of cotton on his 5-acre plot.Wagoner 1970 204 Members House of RepresentativesWagoner 1970 516NameDistrictNameDistrictAlfred AllenYavapaiJames P. HolcombMaricopaJ. W. AndersonPinal and PimaL. J. LassellMohaveR. C. BrownPimaNehemiah McCollumYavapaiRobert ConnellYavapaiC. A. RandallYavapaiJohn W. DorringtonYumaWinthrop A. Rowe (Speaker)YavapaiJames F. DuncanCochiseW. H. SavageCochiseJohn EllisYavapaiD. SnyderPimaJ. H. FawcettPimaAdolphe SolomonGrahamCharles A. FranklinApacheCharles TaylorYavapaiE. B. GiffordPimaD. K. WardwellCochiseE. H. GobinYavapaiSam F. WebbMaricopaWilliam GravesGilaMoye WicksPima CouncilWagoner 1970 516NameDistrictF. K. AinsworthYavapaiPeter J. Bolan Graham and CochiseJ. W. DavisPinal and PimaMorris Goldwater YavapaiFred G. Hughes PimaJ. F. KnappPimaH. E. Lacy ApacheA. D. Lemon Maricopa and GilaMurat Masterson YavapaiEdmund W. WellsYavapaiLamson S. WeltonMohave and YumaEdwin H. Wiley (President) Cochise References 30em Goff John S. Arizona Territorial Officials Volume II: The Governors 1863–1912 Black Mountain Press Cave Creek, Arizona 1978 5100411 McClintock James H. James H. McClintock Arizona, Prehistoric, Aboriginal, Pioneer, Modern Vol. II S. J. Clarke Chicago 1916 https://books.google.com/books?id=xEQOAAAAIAAJ Wagoner Jay J. Arizona Territory 1863–1912: A Political history University of Arizona Press Tucson 1970 0816501769 registration https://archive.org/details/arizonaterritory00wago Further reading Arizona Territory Acts, Resolutions and Memorials Adopted by the Twelfth Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Arizona https://books.google.com/books?id=gpw3AAAAIAAJ 1883 Arizona Miner Prescott 17671568 12 12 Category:1883 in Arizona Territory Territorial Legislature