The herald., 1895-03-02
A GLAD DAY AT PHOENIX
The Citizens Rejoice Over a Great
Railroad Victory
A History Of a Road Which Is the Reward Of
rlany Years of Patient
Work

Phoenix, Feb. 28.-"Eat, drink and be
merry was useless admonition in
Phoenix today, or at least the latter part
OF the admonition was unnecessary, for
If there was jolly and hopeful commun-
ity, it was right herein Phoenix this 2sth
day OF February, A. ID. 1895, says the
Phoenix Herald of today.
The first passenger train from the north
arrived within the city limits in the even
ing and discharged about twenty passen-
gers, among them being General Manager
Vaughn, who had come down to be present
and join in the Notification of our citi-
zens.
But this morning little before o. clock
people were aroused by the falling OF rail-
road irons. and almost before they could
swallow few mouthfuls of breakfast the
road had been built through the main part
of the city, the track following Jackson
street, and by 80 O'Clock the last tie had
been laid and the last spike driven that
took the s. f., p. and p. Railroa past
the city limits and east to the intersection
OF Collins addition.
The City Council had secured the serv-
ices of the Pioneer Brass Band, who dis
coursed patriotic music during the last
half hour of the work, and thousands of
people followed the rustling gang of
workers.
Mrs. Mills of this city was given the
honor of driving the last spike, which she
did amid the cheers and shouts of the
assembled thousands.
The passenger train from this day on
%ili run into and from this city and will
stop and start from Center street until the
depOts are built, and as the carpenters will
begin the work of erecting the depots at
once, traffic in all its branches will assume
a business regularity Immediately.
The Herald proceeds to give history of
the road, as follows: In the spring of
1889 the attention of Joseph Reynolds,
popularity known as Diamond Joe, " was
attracted to the feasibility and probable
profit of constructing and operating a
railroad from north to south across the
Territory. Hon. N. 0. Murphy first pre-
sented the matter to Mr.. Reynolds in May
1889, at the same time enlisting the active
support and influence of f. NJ. Murphy.
Our readers are all familiar with the effort
to have validified the authority previously
granted to Maricopa county by the Legis-
lature to issue subsidy aid bonds in the
amount of $4,000 per mile. across the
county, to assist Mr.. Reynolds and his as
sociates in building the road. How mass
meetings were enthusiastically attended,
an election held and the proposition en-
dorsed by practically unanimous vote of
the electors OF Maricopa county; how
ton and worked long and faithfully to
secure the approval of Congress of the
action of the county; how, after a pro-
tracted effort, the sanction of Congress was
secured, and the act vetoed by President
Harrison in spite of vigorous protests of
subscriptions were thereafter pledged in
the sum of $500, 900 by citizens Of the
county to insure the construction of the
road, which, however were never made
available. How the Sixteenth Legisla-
ture, in response to earnest public senti-
ment, passed an act exempting railroads
constructed within the Territory under
twenty years. How Immediately there
after Diamond Joe' died and it was
feared that the enterprise being pushed
by him would fail. How his able and
active lieutenants never rested in their
efforts until success was assured.
OF this railway eighteen miles were con-
structed in 1892, forty-two miles in 1898
and ninety-three miles in 1894 The road
has cost in the neighborhood of "a, 600, 600
and is first-class in every particular.
The City Council at special session
last evening, passed an ordinance allow
ing the s; f. P. and P. additional side
defined the fire limits, s and ss report a re-.
ceived from the City Engineer for the
establishment OF a grade along Cedar
street; and thereby hangs story to be
told hereafter, as it has already aroused
public opinion to the query stage con-
corning how t came that the Council
granted unusual side-track and switch
franchises without due notice to the pub
lie. 1t was understood yesterday evening
that the temporary ends or termini had
been reached. But from advices today it
is believed that snap judgment has been
taken on the public by the City Council
and though the people are rejoicing over
the advent OF this competing line, yet
there pt This MOI ant n 90
apprehension by many.
The history as set forth in The Herald's
story is wrong. Your correspondent has
hunted the record and has got the true
history from the introduction of the bill
until Diamond Joe died. 1t will be
revelation that will be appreciated. He
to make short visit to Prescott to get
reliable necessary data.