Arizona weekly citizen., 1882-08-06
TEE ATCHIsON ROAD.

We have conflicting reports Gs to the route over which a connection will be made between Benson and Deming. One story is that road will be built down the San Pedro to a certain point, and then northeast to SocoTro, New Mexico; another is that parallel line will be built from Deming to Benson.
 We are not fully advised as to the present arrangement of the AtchIson road with the Southern Pacific for the use of the track from DemiDg to Ben son, but it is without doubt temporary arrangement. A great trsnscontinental road like the Atchison cannot afford long to be dependent upon another road for the right to transport freight and passengers over the track of a rival road. These two great rivals for the carrying trade from the Atlantic to the Pacific will soon be full fiedged, not only quasi rivals, but rivals in fact, and for all there IS in sight. When the Sonora limited is completed the Southern Ps- cifc will have 8 rival for all heavy ma chinery from San Francisco into the southern part of the Territory and So- nora. If Tucson had a connection with the Atchison road we could then derive some benefit from the competition that must come. Should we fail to secure such connection our town, which IS now far ahead of all rivals, must suffer great loss in the trade of the south.
 That the Atchison folks will build | road of their own from some point on the Rio Grande to connect with Benson is only question of time, and of 6 very short time at that. We should keep . very close watch on these Atchison peo- pie, and see to it that We are not given the go-by altogether. All of our people are of one mind as to the need of 8 road from here to Calabasss. Would it not also be good idea to have the Atchison folks extend their main line from Ben. son west to Tucson? Let us not go to sleep now, and Rip Van Wrinkle like wake up twenty years hence and find that we have nothing more valuable left than the rusty remains of an -Old gun barrel" There IS time for all things; the time to secure railroads IS when railroads are being built. live wait until these roRds have completed their sy stem of connections and branch roads we cannot expect anything, for as things are now shaping We are "a little of" of the main line. We cannot hope to have these roads built for us entirely; we shall have to help; but in helping them, we shall also help ourselves. Pima county can afford to help to build railroads. The building of railroads will increase our population and tax able property to such an extent that in the long run We shall be the gainers by it.
 Our present condition reminds us of the man who settled on an island and went into the goat business. His flock consisted of ten goats, and his increase the first year was seven goats. Having no other means of subsisting save from the proceeds of his flock, and having no boat of his own, he was compelle to hire 6 fisherman to bring his supplies from the nearest rOsdstead and paid him in goats. When be came to settle up at the end of the year, it took nine goats to pay the ishermsn's bill. or two more than the islander raised. This arrangement continued from year to year until finally the islander had no goats left, and be was compelled to swim ashore or beg passage with the fisherman, who had consumed his sustenanoe.
 We must do something and do it soon 70 build up our tsvn and county and make it thoroughly self supporting or VIC shall come down to our last goat before we know what has hurt us. We have all the elements right here to build oi.y of no mean importance, but ve should bear in mind that cities do not build themselves.