Arizona republican., 1893-11-19
WELCOME HOME.
Governor Hughes Returns to
Phoenix.
Good News for the Territory-The
North and South Road an Assured
Success Statehood Prospects.

"You may tell your readers that the
north and south road is an assured sue
cess" said Governor l.. G. Hughes to
REPUBLICAN representative who had
called to wish him welcome to the terri
tory after his absence of two months in
Washington, where he has been unceas-
ing in his efforts for its advancement.
The governor, by the way, notwith-
standing his hard work, seems to have
recuperated his energies by the tempo
rary change in his field of labor.
Eyes," he continued, II am glad to
say, that the north and south road is
an assured success. l met several of
the capitalists who are interested in the
venture while 1 was in Chicago and
they told me that the project was to be
carried to com pletion without delay.
The people of Phoenix and of the terri
tory generally realizs what an advant-
age this will be. 1t means increased
transportation facilities, which in turn
mean increased commerce and popula-
ton. While on the subject, may tell
you that IN the east have been asked
by great many of those with whom l
have come into contact about the city.
People seem to be beginning to realize
that it possesses some of the features
which must one day make it one OF the
leading centers of the west.
"What is true of Phoenix is true of
Arizona in general. If [ was asked one
question | was asked thousand as to
our future. The residents. in eastern
states never seem to have appreciated
our great resour ;es, our vast mineral
riches, our unequaled soil and our un-
developed wealth. Particular enqui
ries were made as to the prospects of
gold mining, and l believe that in this
and in irrigation there will be a large
amount OF capital invested in the COM
ing year. think our people will bea agree
ably surprised at the amount of capital
which will find its way into the terri
tory in very short time. A good deal
of this will be put into the reclamation
of the arid land. took every opportu-
nifty OF impressing upon congressman
and senators, especially upon the MEM
bers of the arid land commission, the
importance of the arid land question to
the great west, and | think with good
results.
"Now as to statehood, we have many
friends in both house and senate, but
yet objection is made to our admission
on the ground of population. Several
insist that we have no more than one
third of the inhabitants required to en-
title US to represe in congress
and that it is not just that so small a
state should be placed on a level with
states like New York in the matter of
representation in the United States
senate. 1 have tried to overcome this
objection by showing our vast re-
sources, both mineral and agricultural,
which, as soon as they become thor
oughly known, must lead to rapid in
crease of population. Then l am met
with the answer that they ought to
have led to increased population long
ago. But, on the whole, l think our
chances for admission are better than
those of either New Mexico or Utah.
Much consideration is given to
cially religiously and intellectu-
ally. On this score some OF our
eastern friends have been surprised.
They stool amazed when they saw
the salaries paid in our public schools
and were told of our churches iand
humanizing organizations Some I be-
lieve thought we were yet fighting In
dams. They did not realize our pro-
gress, social and material. Whether
we be admitted to statehood or not in
the near future. our territory is rapidly
being recognized as one which affords
advantages to the capitalist and health
seeker undreamed of by any who is not
able to speak from experience. I
should like to emphasize the Importance
of our joining heart aud hand to increase
our industrial population and of the
building up and sustaining the moral
and progressive forces in the territory.
This will do more than anything else to
hasten the advent of our admission to
the sisterhood of states''