The Weekly Arizonian., 1871-04-08
TUCSON AND THE RAILROAD,

Now that the Texas Pacific Railroad Bill
 has become law, San Diego is at rest as the
 designated terminus on the Pacific Not so Tucson, however the anxiety of our town to
 learn of the passage of this bill was hardly greatsr than is she present anxiety to kaow the section of country through which it will pass on this ongitude-whether to the north or to the south of Tucson, Indeed this is question upon the issue of which rests the future great zsss, or ultimate iDsigni6cance of Tucson as a city of Arizona. Should tho course of the rail- road lie south of this place, sweeping through any of the valleys which lie between us and the boundary of Mexico, Tucson must not, for many yearsr aspire to greatness, although the surrounding country may teem with wealth It is evident that the great city of Arizona is destined to lie on or near the longitude of this place, (the 10th degree), and south of the line of the trans-continsntal railroad, or immedi- ately on the liue, The great ultimate por- tancs of town so located, will be owing prin- cipally to the commanding position it must oc- cupy as railroad center. I. is pretty safe to conclude that the Texas Pacific Railroad shall
 hardly have reached completion before work will actually be going ou upon railroad from
 GHsymas Sonora, to the boundary of Arizona,
 whence no subsidy will be required to have it
 connect with the trans-continentai line, dis
 tance yet, which will prob ably not exceed 75
 miles, and may be less than thirty miles, as the
 latter road may pass to the north or to the
 south of the Santa Graz river, at this place.
 Such connecting branch must follow the 9th
 degree, and need not deviate even five miles
 from straight line, at any point, throughout
 its entire length, so free from natural obstruc.
 tions is the intervening country. Indeed we
 but express the opinion of more than one en-
 gneer who passed over the route, when we say
 that railroad from Guaymas to Tucson might
 be built and put into operation at an expense of $l5, coo per mile-!his amount to include rolling stock, telegraph and the necessary buildings. With the port of Guaymas and 6 l liberal franchise to the American boundary held forth as ar iaducement by Mexico for the 1 eonstxuctlon of this road, and connection with l the line extending from ocean to ocean held 1 forth as an inducement for it's construction is AnzonA, the operationS ola road from Quay. mas to the Texas Pacific is inevitable.
 Now should the traus-cortnental road pass northward of Tucson, it will be readily observ- cd that not only shall we continue the grand center of commerce of Southern Arizona, bu the Gulf railroad (as we may term it) passing directly through our town, will give us at on ce ] position as a railroad center, the center of commerce between the whole south western part of this republic and the only safe port of dexico and the principal city of shat which is certainly the richest minera! region and among he most fertile agricultural regions of the .Io5e, It is therefore matter of vital im- to Tucson that the trans continental ailroad follow the old route in Arizona, viz: rom New Mexico to the pass in the Chi-ri-ca~ us mOuatains; thence through Grassy Plain, ] the Sierra Colorado, to Tucson; thence |. ,ng the valley of the Santa Cruz to a point | ear tue ll2th degree of longitude thence to 10 Gila valley at GiIs Bend, or that it follow long the valleys of the rivers, to the north ard, as those of the San Pedro and Gia. The :: uxiety of ths people of Southsrn Arizona to l 1, larn which route will be adopted is net, there- 're, without foundation, and We are pleased ) understand, that there is but little prospect ' lat it will pass south eff this town,