Arizona weekly citizen., 1890-07-26
ARIZONA.
A Talk with Federal Secretary
 Murphy.
The General Condition of Affairs Very FavOrable---Necessity for More RaiIrOads--Mininga and Tim ber Interests.

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 ber Interests.
 Hon. N. O. Murphy, Federal Secretary of Arizona, was at the Nadeau yester- day on his way around from Northern Arizona to Phenix.
 In an interview with Times reporter Mr. Murphy said Arizona is now more generally prosperous than ever before; the mining industry is thriving, a great | deal of money is being invested in mines and in a capable way insuring profita- ble outcome. He has just come through i the mining sections of MOjave and Yavapai counties, and a healthy buSi- ness tone prevailed everywhere. The proposed silver legislation by congress, he thought, will produce greater pros perity. The mining sections of the southern part of the territory are also lively, and many new camps are being started It is thought that if the silver bill becomes a law the great mining camp at Tombstone will resuma ils old-time activity. The cattle and ag ricultural interests were never more ac- tive.
 There has been something like boom in cattle shipments from the northern part of tho territory lately, stimulated by the high price of beef, and grazers are consequently happy. It is estimated that 7J,G00 steers have been shipped from the three northern couT ties in the past few months. In agricultural pro l ducts, fruit-raising. etc, Mr. Aarpay said that the people expect to be very | lively competitor of Southern California before long, both as to quantity and quality, and there is no question but that Arizona fruit Is earlier in market now. With increased transportation facilities. which are promised, the great valleys of the Salt River and Gila will as -onish the country with the quantity ld variety of their produc- tons. Cereals of all kinds, grapes les pecially raisln grapes,) ngs, oranges peaches, pears, apTicots, olives, lemons, all kinds of vegetables, and even cotton, can be abundantiy and prohtably pro- duced.
 What about the proposed railroad northWard, about which so much has been published, from PheniX?" asked the reporter.
 That will undoubtedly be construced l before long. We read all kinds of rumors in the papers, many of which are mis- leading. Several railroad interests are now competing for the field, and 1t Is by no means certain who will build. l doubt If the people care very much who constructs the road, providing d through line Is built to tine Atlantic and Pacific: | they are tired of short branches. The | Pheniz and Maricopa, bracch Of the Southern Pacific, propose to build north to the mountains at the county line, and ask SS an lnducement exemption from | taxation for a term of years; while ] another company proposes to build q l through line from the Atlantic and Pa cilic to PheniX, and asks a subsidy from the county therefor in bonds Compe- tltion IS quite active, in my judgment insuring the road, which investigation has shoen to be a necessity of the peo- ple."
 -Why q necessity: Is not your pres ent road reasonable in its charges ?" 70, yes; but in time. when produc- tion increases, there wIll not be sui ficient market to the souta ar west, even if the Southern Pacific i.- aiarico- pa and PheniX railroads transport the product of the Salt River Valley for nothing. We cannot hope to compete far to the west with Southern California. and We cannot go east beyond Fl Paso without meeting the products of Kansas, brought in by competing railroads. So, for market beyond purely local con- sumption, our only protection lies to the northward. The road is absolutely necessary to the progress Of the terri tory, and the southern people need the timber, etc, of the north, to say nothing of the benefits which will arise from bringing two great transcontinental routes into competition for through traffic
 Were the prople satisfied with the census:"
 Well, hardly: that is to say, they have no fault to find that I know of with the officers, although they were very much disappointed at the results; bu I find the same feeling exists in several other localities. We expected population of between eighty and ninety thousand"
 What, in your opinion, is a fair esti mate of the population of Arizona?"
 "While l have not seen it officially stated, l have been informed that, ex- elusive of Indians and military reserya- tlcns, about sixty thousand"
 How about DOlItics?"
 "We expect a lively campaign this fall, and at this time it is impossible to foretell the result with any degree of ac curacy. All the usual elements incident to a change of Administration affect the parties, and a warm contest is antcipat- ed.7
 By the way" said Mir. Murphy. in conclusion, Il see that Col. H. H. Mark ham seems to be the choice of Southern California for Governor. 4 better selec- tion could not be found. I have know Col. Markham for twenty years and he IS man of distinguished ability and above reproach in every respect. l hope he will be nominated and elected. We of Arizona feel a warm interest in the affairs of California, and while we re- member that the Colonel when in Con gress did what he could to cause the re lnOval of the military headquarters of the Department of Arizona from Pres colt to Los Angeles, we recognize that he was working loyally for his cunstitu- ency, and think all the more Of hlm for it."
 Secretary Murphy returns to the Ter ritory today. Angeles Times.