The Coconino weekly sun., 1896-02-20
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
To Take Action on Utah's Pro-
posed Land Grab.
Correspondents on the subject-The
summer school OF Science to
Have Use Of the Reform
School Building,

A meeting of the Common Council
was called Tuesday BY Mayor Babbitt
to take appropriate action on the gem
"ral opposition expressed by our ci,i-
Gems To the proposed annexation TO
Utah of all the Arizona lands north Of
the Colorado river. to accomplish which
II bill has been introduced in Congress;
and also to consider what action, If
any, should be taken IN preventing the
executive approval Of the bill lately
passed by Congress providing for the
leasing Of university and public school
lands in this Territory. 1t appearing
to the council that our citizens gener-
ally desired to retain the land north of
the Colorado. a telegram was immpdi
ately sent to Delegate Murphy. from
whom the following reply was received:
WASHINGTON. Feb. 10. 1896:
E. S. Clark, Flagstaff. Ariz.: Am
watching bill to annex part of Terri
tory to Utah, and think can prevent
it. N. o. MURPHY.
II WAS also resolved to invite the
assistance of the Atlantic & Pacific
Railroad Company in this matter. and
accordingly the following letter was
prepared and mailed:
FLAGSTAFF. February 1S, 1896.
Mr.. A. e. Wells, General Manager
A. & p. Railroad, Albuquerque, New
Mexico-Dear Sir: At meeting of the
Mayor and Common Council of this
town held to-day it was resolved tn
invite your cooperation in opposing a
bill recently introduced in Congress
detaching the lands in Arizona north
Of the Colorado river from this Terri.
tory and annexins them to Utah. 1t
is believed that this measure, If it be.
comes law, will be detrimental tn
this portion of Arizona, for the reason
that as soon as Utah gains possession
of practically one-half Of the Grand
Canyon she will use every available
means to divert canyon travel from the
Arizona route to Utah. and this bein g
matter in which the interests OF this
community and the railroad company
are mutual, am directed to reyues'
you to unite with US in opposing the
bill referred to. There are, of course,
other reasons why the citizens of this
section oppose this bill. but none that
seem SO directly to effect the interests
of your company.
Our delegate to Congress. Hon. N.
o. Murphy, assures US that he believes
he can prevent the passage Of the bill,
but he would no doubt highly appreci.
ate your aid and the expression Of you,
views on the matter. We need not
suggest that any action you may take
in this behalf will be highly gratifying
not only to the council, but to the citi
Gems of Flagstaff and Coconino county
generally. Yours very truly,
E. S. CLARK. Clerk.
In the matter of the school and uni
versity land bill. no decisive action wa.
taken beyond sending a number o
kilograms.
| A telegram was received by. tn,
mayor from D. NJ. Riordan stating tina
Governor Hughes had assured him tina
the reform school building would b.
suitably prepared for such use us nigh
be required by the summer school o
science, and \ resolution was passed
thanking Mr.. Riordan and the gov
ernor for the kindness shown the coun
Gil in this matter, and the clerk wa
ordered to mail copy of the resolu
tions to each Of these gentle men.
A letter was received from Franl
Saville Of Williams, giving it as hi
opinion that there is AL abundance o
water reasonably close to Flagstaff tha
can he made available by intelligen
development, and stating that he woul,
meet the council and Inspect the sew
eral points from which 1t is believed
water can be obtained as so0n as hi
business will permit.
| There being no further business, tn