Arizona silver belt., 1897-12-02
THURSDAY. DECEMBER ?, 1897.
A PLEA FOR THE RAILROAD.

It is always pleasure to be the herald of good news, and the SILVER BELT was much gratiiied to give to its readers the first really definite iuforma- ton regarding the extension of the railroad from Geronimo to Globe, pnb- hshed in the issue of Nov. Is, and which has received confirmation from sources of unprecedented authority within the past few days. No doubt there are those who are still skeptical upon a subject SO long bruited without any of the many optimistic rumors being realized, and who, like St. Peter. want palpable evidence before credit ing any further reports. Nevertheless, we can state with positiveness. quail fled only by the falibility of all human knowledge, that the agreement has been ratified which insures the early completion of the Gila Valley, Globe & Northern railroad to Globe. There remain to be settled only few minor details, and one question of greater importance, which is the right-of way across the White Mountain reservation.
 It appears that Lieut.. Rice, the newly appointed Indian agent at San Carlos, while perfectly unbiased on the question, IS unwilling to act under the instructions sent to his predecessor, Capt. Meyer, relative to the nego railway company, as be considers that Capt. Meyer was specially charged with that duty, and Lieut.. Rice, tnere- fore, prefers to await the receipt of new instructions from the Interior de- pertinent before taking any action in the matter. It is we'll, we think. that Lieut.. Rice has taken this view of the question, as the instructions sent Capt. Meyer, under the direction of Presi. dent Cleveland, imposed npon the rail. way company the fultillment of un- reasonable conditions aud practically made the Indians sole arbiters on the question of right-of-way.
 It is sincerely hoped that the present administration will take more reason able view of the matter, and consider the compensating advantages which would iuure to the Indians and tU the government through the building of & railroad across the reservation. We have recently shown disposition to be more moderate in their demands and be governed by the wishes of the President and the department at Wssb ington, and if in their opinion the rail. road would be of any advantage to tho Itfdisns, they would acqniesce; so all that IS required to insure the right of- way being granted is for The govern ment to advise the Indians that it favors the building of the railroad, and to modify the instructions to the agent at San Carlos tu accord with that desire.
 The matter is to be submitted to the Interior department at once, and within few weeks, at the farthest, it is expected that Lieut.. Rice will re- eeive new instructions, when the right of-way can be speedily arranged, as the railway company stands ready to fulfill any reasonable requirements and to begin construction work immediately after the ratification of the agreement.
 Without desiring to impugn the rights of the Indians, nevertheless, we think the government should view the question of a railroad across the White Mountain reservation broadly, from the standpoint of an advancing civili- zation, and recognize the rights and wishes of it's citizens in Arizona to be at least equally entitled to considera- ton with those of the Indians. aud we are hopeful that the administration will recognize these obligations, and in SO far as is consistent, favor the Gila Valley, Globe and Northern railway company in its effort to extend its line 10 Globe.