Arizona citizen., 1878-02-15
Remarks On Railway Advance
 menG.

nate that opposition to any i've rall- way builders constructing a road to- wards the heart of Arizona, should arise in this Territory. In the language ofthe celebrated civil service order of Presi- dent Hayes about political action; the right to oppose, speak or write in o. position to this or any other company, is not denied, but the policy is question able. The cry about the Southern Pacific being monopoly, IS amply answered by saying that any company that builds railway through Arizona on any route north or south of, or along the Gila Valley, must be a monopoly or have the ability to be one. To op pose the company because it is a mo- nopoly is equivalent to opposing any company that undertakes to build railroad
 To oppose It because it has present ly stopped extension eastward of Yu- ma, is an opposition without regard to the plainest business sense, as much so as to denounce or oppose a man or company for not constructing works or improvements of immense cost on the land of another without legal priv ilege to do so. The Southern Pacific has no legal right to build through Arizona along the Gila valley or with in twenty miles on either side of the river. It is doubtful if it had the lawful right to cross the river at Yuma or lay a raIl upon Arizona at or near Yuma; yet to avoid the vast cost of reshipment and ferriage of freight, passengers, mails and express matter, Il acted rightly if not clearly lawfully and no man of common observation will deny the doctrine that many acts are right which are not specifically authorized by law The Texas Pacif- ic Company's franchise through Ari- zona is not yet void although vOidable; it has not complied with the terms of its charter and therefore Congress can and should declare the charter void and not permit it to prevent another company from extending its road, so much needed by the people of the Ter ritory, while doing nothing itself The
 Texas Pacific does not build and by its demands of Congress, practically says it cannot and therefore will not, and is expending its energies to pre- vent the road being built by any other company. It is therefore unjust to oppose the Southern Pacific for not advancing its road east of Yuma, and unfair to say it does not intend to build it when it's strongest efforts toI get legal power to build it is stoutly opposed and as yet withheld by Congress. Who would undertake to build a house or manufactory on his neighbor's land with every possible opposition by that neighbor: Give the Southern Pacific the lawful right to build over its surveyed route in Arizona, and then If it does not do so, d la Texas Pacific, THE CITIZEN will demand that is rights be promptly taken away. The true position is sim ply this: Don't let the privilege and power to build the road be tied up byI any company which fails to build ac- cOrding to its contract or even build at all.
 Arizona is large gainer by the road to Yuma; it would gain in great CT proportion as the road extends this side. It formerly had to take the chances ot getting freight on the steamer at San Francisco, via the Gulf. l Goods often laid in San Francisco a month to six weeks after purchase to the great loss of the purchaser Now they come promptly and quickly 10 | Yuma and are there piled up and lay weeks and almost months in some in | stances, to the great damage of the owner. Extend the road eastward. and these costly, vexatlons and fn | some instances) irreparably damaging delays would end. As the line ad- | vances, distributing points would mul- tiply and make large accumulations impossible. Specific cases might be easily cited Co illustrate the damage referred to, and they would include the total loss of perishable property which if even replaced, would this year be out of season, and a whole year of progress lost
 The "Southern Pacific monopoly " has enabled Arizona merchants to make choice of New York and San Francisco markets, and freed them, without expense, of the latter. It has quickened and cheapened the shipment of ores and other Arizona products It has made easy transit of the dreaded Colorado desert. Goods are brought ir in better condition as well as quicker But it is useless 10 enumerate the many well known advantages of the road, even at Yuma; and almost as needless s to recite the many more 1t would af- ford if advanced from 150 to 200 miles It is neither policy, just nor do we , think right to oppose an enterprise so I certain to bring many more advantages to the people of this Territory.
 Hun.n.--