Arizona weekly citizen., 1885-05-02
The C., T. & \. ". R. R.
An Open Letter from Col. c. F. Sykes, tho
 General Manager of the Company.

To the Taxpayers of Pima County. - GESTLEMES:-As the board of super sors of this county have ordered an cleo ton for the purpose of voting upon the issue of S200.000 bonds toward the con structiOn of the Calabasas, Tucson < Northwestern railroad, and being ire quently asked to explain the purposes and plans of said corporation, being ia miliar as I am with the general plans, I have concluded it advisable to do so through an open letter for the benefit of all taxpayers in our county.
 First: The charter defines the termi- nal points of the road in the following language: For the purpose of con structing a railroad from a point at or near Calabasas northerly following sub stantially the general course of the Santa Cruz river, to point at or near Tucson, thence by the most practicable and elig- ible route to spoint at or near Phenix, with branches from said line on either side from the most practicable points on said line, by the most eligible and prac- ticable route to the mines and settle ments adjacent thereto, and particularly to point at or near Arivaca, to a polnt at or near the Quiiotoa miues, or noun tains, and toa point near San Xavier mines on the west side, and to point at or near the Deer Creek coal fields and to a point at or near Globe on the east side, all of said road and branches will be situated in the counties of Pima, Pi- nal, Maricopa and Gila, and of an esti- mated total distance of about three hun dred and fifty miles.
 Second: To any one acquainted at all with the counties named, and the route over which said road is to be built, they will readily understand that the route embraces the most practicable points, to connect the mining, sgricul- tural, stock, coal and lumber interests of central aud southern Arizona. This will cause each interest to be of mutual bene- fit, in exchang with others, in utilizing them by cheap transportation.
 Third: In order to do this, the projec- tors of this railroad, propose to build up business interests, in connection with the railroad, to insure its success as q financial undertaking.
 Fourth: For that purpose they have incorporated the Arizona Cattle and I'm provement company, to work in con junction with the Calabasas, Tucson, and Northwestern Railroad company, mak ing a joint security, to carry out the purposes of the two interpretations; and one of the leading features will be to create an artificial water supply, by the sinking of deep wells, pumping the water to pipe line, sunk in the road bed, for use of stock in desert places, under patents of Combined Railway and Cattle Water Supply" and place cattle upon the line of said road.
 Fifth: They also contemplate erect ing complete reduction works of large capacity, upon the line of said railroad, at some convenient point, in order that ore may be worked at the lowest possi- ble rate for reduction and transportation, giving a new impetuous to our mining industry, to which this section of country is notably fitted.
 Sixth: Our opinion is, that there are but few taxpayers in the county of Pima, but who will join us in the belief that there are at least one thousand min ing claims, within ten miles each side of our proposed railroad, through the different counties through which it will | pass, which would pay their owners a larger profit to work them than to work | for wages, providing he could get his ore worked at a reasonable cost, for re- | duction and transportation, he getting | the value of the proceeds, whether it be gold, silver, copper or lead,
 Seventh: With the contemplated i'm of the Arizona Cattle and | company, combined with | lhe Calabasas, Tucson and Northwestern | company, completed, it will in- crease the taxable property in Pima | county over S1,0OO,000, without taking | into consideration the increase in value of real estate, caused by the building of | said railroad; this, allowing taxes the same as now, will pay the interest upon the bonds, and retire to sinking fund, annually, sufficient to cancel the bonds in twelve years, This conclusively | proves that as business proposition the is good one for the county, and safe, as the bonds are not called for until the road is completed to the points named in their connection. A contract has been let to an English syndicate to build, equip, and stock the road com plete to all the points named in the charter, subject to the granting of the county subsidies.
 In conclusion, We believe that if our | people act wisely, and are united in this undertaking, and help te promptly fur uish such material aid as to hasten the final completion of these enterprises, a new era of prosperity to our people will be inaugurated which will command the | admiration of the country.
 Respectfully Yours,
 O. P. SYKES,
 General Manager.