Arizona weekly citizen., 1883-10-06
A RAILROAD TO PHEEIx.


 In noticing the closing remarks of recent article which appeared in tn, CITIZEN the Phenix Herald takes uy the question by publishing that portion referring to railroad to Phenix anC says: "The above language of the CIT HEN IS an excerpt from a long editoris urging the people of Tucson to put their shoulders to the wheel Of enter prise and progress, and to push hard What most interests us, however, IS the reference to necessity for a railroad communication with Phenix. Now Phe. nl1 has even greater necessity for rail. road communication with Tucson, noi must our railroad stop there. We must have the whole southern and south. eastern part of this Territory for market at once, or our farmers will see harder closer times for the next two years | than they have ever seen. There is no use m trying to delay the matter. We must have railroad outlet and have 1t within the next year, or we must suffer losses to this valley that would build a railroad to Msricopa. We are just hay ing foretaste at the present time of what to expect in the future-crops be- yond our capacity to handle-stringency Tn the money market-stagnation of | business. This condition of affairs will increase each year till we are connected with large markets outside. We will be obliged to fight for our market. Los Angeles and Southern California, backed by the Southern Pacific railroad com pany, are striving for our conven- lent, our natural markets. They will do what they can to get a hold on those markets before we can get them. They will do all they can to keep us from getting them. It is In their interest to keep us in the back ground and so long ss we do not come out by our own energy and enterprise, We will stay just where We are or go backward. The southern portion of the territory wants railroad cOmmunica- ton with Us. Their prosperity is not SO dependent upon our valley as the pros perity of our valley is dependent upon them, yet they are desirous of doing even more than their share of the work to have railroad communication with the valley. It would help them; it would help us more. The prosperity Of Tucson and Tombstone and Benson IS our prosperity. If each were 10 grow into 8 city of 50,OOO inhabitants We would be just that much better oil We are the producers; we must find the con- sumers before we can prosper as we should.
 The expression of the Herald, Is no doub: the expression of the people of Phenlx, and Salt River valley. The conclusions arrived at are sound. There should be DO delay in meeting the clti- zens of Pinal and Maucopa counties halfway, and go about the work at once. The Herald thinks they need the road more than We need #; We believe that We need i as much as they do. With such a feeling m favor of the road it should no; be diiiicnlt undertaking. But whether difficult or otherwise, We must have 1t and no lime should be lost in beginning the work. We can have it this year as well as next If We do our duty.
 The Gazstte IS also in accord with the movement and discusses the question as follows. "The CITIZEN says Tucson must have railroad connection with Phe- nix. Now let the people of PheRix say they must have railroad connection with Tucson; let a committee on ways and means be appointed by the two places and a conference be had and possibly something can and will be done. There IS no use in folding your hands and say ing i've must wait upon the Southern Pacific company and Providence" for the first has said 1t wont help you and the second is "mighty uncertain" The CITIZEN truthfully says to the people of Tucson, and the same vii apply with great force to the people of Pheuix.' !