The Arizona sentinel., 1893-04-29
Across the Desert.

Ever since the days, when Col
 Tom Scott, was planning to buil(
 the Texas and Pacific Railroad
 it has been plain that sooner ol
 later, road must be built ovel
 that route. Col. Scott failed, only
 because he was stricken down by his severe illness, one day too soon
 During the years that have elapsed since then, much has been saiC and written in regard to the vast area of magnificent country that lies in the great valley of the Colo rado, extending from the river west to the main range of noun tains, and from the Cocopah noun tains to Salton lake, an area ot land 90 by I45 miles, nearly all ot which in time will be cultivated, and across which for more than 100 miles, the San Diego, Yuma and Phoenix Railroad will be built. The great flood of '91, the high water of last year, the earth quake and Salton sea of two years ago, have brou ght this great val ley more prominently before the public; while the vast pasturage of the region has brought scores of of cattle and stockmen into it, for observation and exploration.
 So much had been written in regard to its utter worthlessness and desolation, that many believ- ed it to be more dreaded than the wastes of Sahara or Gobi; and when the stockmen began to ex- plore it, and saw the vast extent of pasture, they could hardly be- lieve their own eyes, and when they returned and told their story, they were hardly believed. But what a change. Within a few days, two companies have been organized to build railroad from San Diego via Yuma to Phoenix, line that will pass through the richest portion Of the southwest. From Yuma west to Cariso Creek, a distance of no miles, the road will cross the Colorado valley, the richest continuous stretch of land on the coast, not mile of which will have a grade of 25 feet to the mile. To the east, the line will following up the great valley of the Gila, the Mohawk, one of the most fertile, rich and best watered portions of the territory, and across other fine valleys and mesas, until Phoenix is reached. From Phoenix to Cariso creek, 27O miles, the road will not pass over a foot of waste land, and there is not another line of the same length in the west that can be so cheaply and easily built. To build this line, Messrs. Carlson and Reed, with others, have united their forces. Of the success of the un- lertaking there can be no doubt. That the line will pay from the beginning, everyone believes, who las been over the country, and knows in what consists its natural advantages. Said one of our most conservative business men, who is perfectly familiar with the valley ,f the Colorado, ''in ten years from .oday, from 2?O,OOO to 3OO,OOO people will inhabit that rich l egion. A railroad across that alley will pay from the start"
 With such men at the head of | he company, and such men as hose which compose the directory, | Tith such country as that over which this line will pass, and with uch river, as the grand old Col rado, as @ feeder, this new enter rise must be a success from the tart, and no power on earth can revent its being such. This vast, ich, unoccupled region, must, and 7ill have such a line to open it up 0 settlement and development.