Today's Weather

Click for Sierra Vista, Arizona Forecast

Bisbee’s origin was as a thriving mining town

Published/Last Modified on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 05:30:47 am MST

Font Size

To the Editor:

People who write their objections to Bisbee having productive mining operations in the future obviously moved here from another city, state or country.

Bisbee was founded, populated and thrived during the operation of the mines. Since mining has all but stopped here, one only has to look at what has happened, i.e., our streets are deplorable, the retaining walls in some areas of the city are on the verge of collapsing, the city’s water-drainage ditch is full of overgrowth and many buildings in town are boarded up or are in various stages of decline.

Mining seems to be the very most profitable business yet and without it, Bisbee certainly has not been able to grow nor offer a good means of income to many people. Small shops selling jewelry, art and some antiques have not supplied to tax base needed as. So, I say to all of you who are against the mining progress, why don’t you go back to where you got your start and leave Bisbee where it got its origin.

Martha Micholson

Bisbee

Print this story Email this story

Font Size

Use the form below to post a brief comment to this story, or respond to other readers. Please use the word count tool to assist you in keeping your remarks to 100 words or fewer.
Comments appear once they are approved. Your thoughtful contribution to the online discussion is appreciated.

Bisbee Revival wrote on May 28, 2008 12:53 AM:

" For you "old timers" and "native Bisbeeites", what do you think would be left of your beloved Bisbee if outsiders had not moved to Bisbee and started to rehab the delapidated town? Most of the buildings would be completely gone now. The fact that there IS a tourist business there contributes to the town. Bisbee would be nothing more than another ghost town if it weren't for the county court house and administration buildings. The "outsiders" helped clean up the disaster that your idylic "benevolent" mining company left behind. "

Totally Agree wrote on May 26, 2008 1:26 AM:

" One can plainly see from the great variety of housing available in Bisbee the sort of distribution of wealth that the mining companies in Bisbee provided. Yes, those were the good old days. Mansions and one room tin shacks. I don't care what sort of industry you bring to Bisbee. If you are looking for a resurgence and prosperity of a by-gone era, you can rebuild the smokestacks, re-open the company store, and have the town become a company town again. Glad to see the gift $ for kid sports teams. "

Native wrote on May 25, 2008 9:41 AM:

" Totally Agree - See, you prove that you know not what you speak. Those days were early at the turn of the 20th century, when the majority of cities and towns in the United States had the same "free-wheeling" amenities. Those are by-gone days, but I know you were just trying to be cute. "

Totally Agree wrote on May 25, 2008 12:29 AM:

" Bring back the free-wheeling days of Brewery Gulch with hundreds of bars and gambling operations open 24 hours a day. Bring back the numerous cribs and houses of ill-repute. That's the sort of place we need now in Cochise County. Good Old Mining Town Heritage at it's Finest. Should be good for "Adventure Tourism" too. "

Native wrote on May 24, 2008 10:16 PM:

" Martha - you are so right! Unfortunately, the fools who criticize know not what they speak. "