The Arizona champion., 1888-03-17
NoRru AND SOUTH ROAD.

NORTH AND SOUTH ROAD.
 THERE can be no question of the advantages to be gained, in the devel- opment of our great natural resources by the construction of a north and south railroad in Arizona. The prin- cipal object to be kept in view, how ever, in the projection of such a road, should be the bringing together of the producing sections of the territory so as to effect such an interchange of commodities as will increase the volume of territorial commerce and bring capital into the country to develope those resources which form the basis of future prosperity for the entire territory.
 The act of the Fourteenth legisla- ture, under which the Prescott x Arizona Central R. R. has drawn from the county treasury S4000 for each mile of road completed aggregating $296, 900, and under which it may in the near future call for $400,000, more to aid in completing the road to the southern line of the county, may have been passed with these objects in view by the advocates of the bill, but results thus far shown by the operation of the road are not such as to indicate that any great amount of development has been achieved, or that its exten- sion will accomplish any material benefit for the territory at large, or even fs the capital city itself. True, the road would furnish means of trans portation- for the ores of Bradshaw mountain, but the same amount of money invested in mills and smelters at the mines would make Prescott the most prosperous mining center in the west. It would also bring cheaper Hay, grain and provisions from the productive valley of Salt river, but this would be a questionable advantage to the farmers of Hassayamps and Willow Greek.
 Stretching southward and westward from where the Mineral Belt road strikes the ''rime" are the valleys oi the Verde, Salt River and Tonto Basin, region which must for all time tc come form the principal base of sup plies for the entire territory for hay, grain, flour, provisions, beef and al those commodities which 20 to make up the staple necessaries of life, while in the San Francisco, Mogollon, 'ant White Mountains and on the inter vening plateaus in the northwestern section of the territory are vast forest. of timber, extensive deposits of btu minous and anthracite coal, and great leads of silver, gold, copper and lead To-day the cheapest lumber in Phoeni, commands forty-fye dollars per thous and. The same lumber sells in Flag staff for fifteen dollars. Wepay thre, cents per pound for potatoes which sel for fifty cents a bushel in Phoenix The entire region referred to needs ou lumber and coal and we need thei flour, grain and provisions, An inter change of these commodities througl direct rail connection would build u, an immense traffic and keep immens sums of money in the territory whicl are now sent abroad for the purchase o products which should be interchangec within our own boundaries.
 Competent surveyors who have e1 amined the country say that the Min eral Belt road strikes point within seventy miles of Phoenix from whenc an easy grade may be obtained to tn
 Valley City. Money expended in con pleting the Mineral Belt road an building a connection to Phoenix woul accomplish more in the direction of d.
 veloping the business interests and m, terial resources of the territory tha can be expected from the constructio
 of any other north and south road and , Yavapai County is to invest s400,0
 in railroad building, this end of th : county wants to put it where it will d , the most good, by aiding the Miner Belt noi th and south line.
 THE fISEE LIST.
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