Arizona citizen., 1875-06-26
APPROACHING RAILWAYS.

| We say railways, although but one is ap l preaching Arizona at a rate that guaran
 tees early advantages. The Southern Pa
 cific road will be within one hundred and
 sixteen milesof Yuma this year, and in 1876
 early in the year we believe, the iron track with trains thereon will reach the Cobra
 do at Yuma. Many say this is too good to
 be true, but hope It will prove true. While
 absent, we had two lengthy interviews with
 President Charles Crocker, Gov. Stanford
 and other officials of the road. They as-
 sured us that it would be completed as just
 running over thirty miles this side of Los
 Angeles, and in August will run eighty
 three. Fifty more miles are under con
 tract and the iron purchased, and in No-
 vember, passengers and freight will be car
 ried one hundred and thirty-three miles from Los Angeles in the direction of Yuma leaving at that date but about one hun dred and sixteen more miles to build to complete the connection with Yuma. This distance is much less than that built and to be built in 1875. Then that built this year will be comparatively worthless without a connection with the colorado river. The Southern Pacific is the only company in the United States building any railroad of consequence now. It now has thousands of men at work on the road, and will add more if found useful In hast ening the work. The company is determin- ed to connect Arizona and San Francisco, and Gov. Stanford thinks some of making 6 tour of inspection in Arizona the pres ent year to personally observe the topog- raphy of the Gila or southern route and the prospective business of the road when in operation. We once hoped Congress would procure aid for the Texas and Paci- fic road, but that hope was vain one. We hope it may yet receive early and suf- f1cient aid, for the quicker this route is covered with a railway, the better for all along it's line from the Atlantic to the Pa cific as we'll as many elsewhere and the government. But we hail the coming to our great relief, of any railroad. While Congress declines or hesitates to assist one company, another is building road hitherward with rapidity, and we cordial ly welcome it and it's builders. They come first to our relief. For her own good, San Francisco should lend a strong and effi- cient hand to the enterprise. That city more than anyother is interested in the extension of the Southern Pacific through Arizona to the Rio Grande in New Mexico. It is very reasonably said that this road will give us no competition. Grant it. But it will be railroad nevertheless. And a railroad is what we want. Nearly two months ago we sold currencyat S71a in San Francisco and paid for goods which will not be here before July i, and then at cost of fully eight cents per pound. We have, years ago, paid one dollar pound for onions and sixty cents for flour, and was quite sure it were much better and safer to do it than await competition and d fair selling price. So with the coming railway. It may not give us as low rates of fare and freight as would rule with line, but it will give much lower than now rule with incOInparable speed, and be coupled with vast advan- tages to the Territory. And best of all, we will not be old and off the active busi- ness list of men and women when these are within our reach.