Arizona weekly citizen., 1883-05-26
RAILROAD RATTLE.
The Necessitie- or Railroad to Phenix and What Must be Done to Secure IL

Since public attention has been Ii rected to tine agricultrraI resources oi tine valleys immediately tributary to the city of Phenix, their immense extent and value have created a deep interest in that section. The project of rail. road connection with the outside world of consumers, has evolved careful estI- ! mates of the volume of traffic likely to ! ensue, and 1T Is something wonderful ! lt ls learned from statements in the newspapers Of PneulX and from inform | atiOn received from individual residents l of the Salt river and Gila valleys, that aside from the existing facilities for irrl- gatlon no less than five imDortant canals are now iu course Cf construction from the Verde, Salt and Gila rivers. ID Mari c"pa county, giving an additional area of good, rich, farming lands estimated at more than three hundred thousand acres. Nearly all this land will be pre- pared for crops In lo,J, and much Os 1t Hlll be planted in lSSA As double crops will largely be produced each year, tae exports of that section m a few Years will amount Co something prOdigiOus. Already the surplus of production OF Salt nver ls tinaIug its way Go the out side world with even the present meaCre transportation facilities, and d railroad connection Is an absolute necessity to the continued pros peritY and welfare of that place.
 The Tucson and Globe narrow gauge road, which. as originally contemplated, will cross the San Pedro riyer some where near Old Camp Grant. affords a hope Of a branch from Pheuix through Florence aud Mesa city to a junction on the San Pedro. This outlet Co Trcson would give permanent market for the farmers of Salt River valley, and the prospects of the speedy construction of the Port LobOs railroad and connect ion with the Santa Fe system at Gala hasas, would glye them also the benefit 0f competing lines oi railroad to all the markets Of the world, and render other ralrOa4 ramIIicatI0us unnecessary.
 Wmlet the peOplaof -Ecs0n feel deep interest m road to PheniX, and will ex- ert themselves Go bring about such an enterprss there ls danger in such d scheme fiat the people of MaricOpa county shGld fOresec aud ayOidiu time. As strctF lOca. enterprise. they should retain m tlTir own hands the power pf managing ae road, and to do this. they they must at euergetIcally m She prem lses and show their faith in the wGk by investing their money in il It Is almost certain that if the Sat river people will sub. scribe two hldred thousand dollars to aid their road that the people of Tucson will bring all the necessary capital to complete tine bad and fully equip it. and at the sme time leave the main control of the bad il ,le hands of the Phenix people.
 Foreign capiu IS timid of investment ! where a local wnt of confidence exist.. ! and the people must show a faith and | confidence in th enterprise to interest ! capital. The ppple os Fhenix can rest ! assured Of one ting-the narrow gauge railroad will bahuilt: and further. 1t l will be in running order to the San ]. Pedro river beie the close Of the present year. 1.-the new project is to take tangible shGr. it is better that it be done uromptiy.ul road bed can be graded and read for ties. iron and bridge timber by te time the narrow gauge reaches tin, point of junction. when the remaindsbs tine work can be speedily finished.