Arizona silver belt., 1891-03-28
..arlos and Bowie. This

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 many reasons, not necessary to explain in this communication. Unless this road is maintained in passable shape for heavy teams, the chief industry, copper mining, must suffer, and with it the whole community, and indirec ctly the county at large.
 It is therefore to the interest of the people of Gila county to do all in their power to keep at least one highway open, to save our important industry and prevent an almost absolute isola- tion of our town with the outside world nt least so fur us it concerns supply of material The present condition of that road Is depIorable, It has been bad for years, at every wet season, but since the flood it is next to impossible between Globe and Thomas, at least in many places. 1t is reliably stated that the average time consumed by freight CTS between San Carlos and the Globe smeltars, has increased several days, and the passage of freight teams through the town and its outskirts, alone is reported 10 be one day more in consequence of the damage to the road by Pinal creek. teams being com pelled to pull through sand washes and over rocky creek bed
 That this state of affairs will affect freight rates, is but reasonable to as- sume, and that possible raise in freights will more or less cripple our copper mines. and cause an increase in the price of living, ir which every cit izeR IS interested, cannot be gainsayed But, strange to say, there seems 10 be an apathy ou the part of our people against any or all steps in the direction of keeping at least one road open for traffic, which seems to be shared In by our Board of Supervisors, who have, so far, done nothing to relieve the situa- tion That the remedy cannot be based upon the few dollars of road fund, especially when handled by in- competent parhes, is quite evident but Pinal and Graham counties have uot depended upon their district road funds, but expended liberal sums appropria- ted for the purpose, to keep communi- cation with Globe open. The writer does not believe that Gila county is ready to join in an expensive road be- tween Florence and Globe, but few thousands expended on our present freight road, even If the money be raised by bonds, would only protect the prosperity of Globe and the whole county.
 It is most discouragiag to contem- plate, that not single bridge spans either Gila or Salt river, in this county, l and the most dishearteniug part of it Is, that two government departments the military and Indian departments
 both of which maIntain large cstab- | lishments at San Carlos, with an i'm mense traffic, seem to be unable to provide for bridge at the Agency where it is so much needed. so that in ! every heavy rain the paesage through the swollen stream is impossible. It is thought, however, that as an Indian has been drowned in attempting to ford the river, the matter will be considered | now.
 r is we'll thai we fully understand that although the public highway passes through the Indian reservation, the | right Gf way in our own county must not he disturbed, not even by the gov ernment agents This is matter of common law, and valid all over the ] civilized world. Lately reports came in to the effect that four foot ditch was being dug between the eight and | nine mile posts to cross the public road twice. So far, the ditch has not been dug across the road, but on both | sides of 1t. Acting upon the report of | this threatened interference, one of our citizens wired to Capt Bullis for infor- nation in the matter, to which that official replied, in an assuring manner, that the road would not be interfered i with. It is much to be hoped that Capt, Bullis will not permit the Indians to obstruct our public highway; the laws are equally as binding fer the h. dians as for the white n,en
 Let public spirited citizens assemble end counsel together what can be done in this serious matter, on which de- pends so much of our prosperity.
 4 CITIZEN.
 LESSONS IN DANCING. Ladies