The weekly Arizona miner., 1872-02-17
Ghe Miner.
THE ATLANTIC AND PACHC R. R
frrv,n the San Francisco New. Letter.l


 This railroad. which, for obvious and vari ous reasons, is attracting great attention upor this coast. deserves a favorable consideration from the entire press west of the Rocky Mountains: First, for its being when built through line under one control, and inde- pendent of parallel corporations; 2d, it WI be road that we can depend upon the year through; 3d, it will regulate and give us standard tariff for passengers and ireish' which will be more reliable than tDe fhefcu- rial one that bobs up and down during every storm, as on the present overland; fth, u will allow us to ride our southern country friends on a rail {; 9th, it will subdue the say age Apache; 9th, it don't want destructi- ble bridge built at our expense across the lower portion of the Bay. For, as we under stand it. the A. and F. Road commences at St. Louis. in the State of Missouri, and ends at North Beach, in this city. It is already completed to point forty miles west of the line in Indian Territory Ca reservation set aside for the Indians of the Cherokee, ChOc- Jaw, Chickasaw, Creek, Seminolcs and other tribes too numerous to mention); across this territory and westward the A. and F. K. pro- poses to take its way. Missouri has popu- lation of about two millions; it lies (on a straight linc) nearly west of New York City, and is more accessible by railroad and water from that center of commerce than any other State, of equal population and advantages, so far west. St Louis, the eastern terminus oi this proposed road, has population of 35O,- GOO. Arkansas, on the south of Missouri-a thriving and growing State, with popula- ton of over 500,000; large part of Kansas, with nearly the same population, Southern Illinois, Indiana, Western Kentucky and Tennessee are within radius that must com pei them to accept this road for all overland business they may have to offer or claim. The Indian Territory through which this road must pass famous for its fertility, its pleas ant and healthy climate) claims to have more first-class agricultural land than any State of equal area in the United States-it is about three hundred and fifty miles in length by 200 miles in width, having an area of about seventy thousand square miles. The northern and best part of Texas is traverscd by this line, which then passes into New MeXlco-a country having variety of climate, with rich and varied soil, from which will grow any fruit not requiring tropical sun. New Mexico promises to be great grape and wine country, and for grazing purposes has no su' perior. The mineral wealth is beyond com, putation. Gold, silver, copper and lead abound there, and only await the railroad tC send forth millions. Anthracite coal is found in large and massive veins. Over and through this magnificent country is located the At lantic and Pacific Railroad. It then passes into and through the undoubted rich mineral districts of Northern Arizona, and drops into our own golden State near Fort Mohavc, on the Colorado River, in the county of San Bernardino, at point about 67O miles from San Francisco.
 The entire country over which the propos- ed road will pass, from St. Louis to within forty miles of the -Golorado River, is said to De u continuous combination of wealth, cx- isting in splendid lands-agricultural, pastu- ral and mineral, the development of which will soon follow the building of this impor- tant road. Coal abounds all along portion of this route, so much so that the fuel ques, tion, as an obstacle to building and running an overland Railroad on that parallel is set or one side, for New Mexico alone is claimed tC be natural depot for fuel of all kinds, and when this road is built that far west it will have an immense freight business in coa transportation alone. The route selected runs directly west from the Colorado to the head of Santa Clara River Valley, in Los Angeles 
 Soledad Pass, thence down this valley to San Buenaventura, thence via Santa Barbara, San Luis 0bispo, to head of Salinas Valley, down same to Watsonville, thence up the coast via Santa Cruz, Pescadero, Spanishtown, and Point San Pedro, entering San Francisco at North Beach. The Southern Pacific will touch this line at two points, once at Watsonville, and again near Soledad Pass. Any one at all familiar with California, from San Francisco to Los Angeles, will see what an immense benefit this road will be to California alone !; and as aid to this enterprise can be afforded by us in some shape, it should be offered at once, and the sooner the better. We shall be benefited in various ways far beyond what we may elect to give, be it ever so much. The great work once commenced at this end, will give work to thousands of men, and the entire working class of our community will feel the benefit of the road while building and merchants, traders and consumers after it is built. With this road in operation down the coast, who can foretell what population will pour in and settle upon the vacant lands now idle in the coast counties, for want ol direct and rapid communication with mar ket. Let us vote a direct aid, or vote guar. antee on an amount equal to our population and standing. St. Louis proposes to extend helping hand, and it will undoubtedly be a generous one-let us do likewise. This State and all the States and Territories the road may pass through should do the same, and in liberal spirit shove this road to rapid completion. By acting at once we can get the road at once. That the coast counties will give, We have proof in the late election in Santa Cruz and San Diego, where aid was voted and but little opposition offered. Thi. road, when built, will be the most natural one for the great bulk of trade, and certainly will be the most pleasant for travellers both summer and winter. Trains can be moved over this route the year through without fea, of detention from snow or ice. Let the pres of California take this matter in hand an, we will then hear a locomotive whistle i, less than three years announcing the comiu, of the Atlantic and Pacific train. The foI lowing is from the St. Louis Republican C January lst, and illustrates the growth greatness of the city that we advocate shai ing hands with over the proposition % assi, the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Company completing their road to this city at as earl day as possible:
 "Wonderful as was the extension of tl
 railroad connections, serving the commer'
 of St. Louis in 1870, it has been fully equale