The herald., 1897-09-21
Brings on an Epidemic OF
Railroads
EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION
ENCOURAGES PROMOTERS TO
ACTIVE WORK
Many Proposed Roads Will Not Be
Built, But Important Develop
ment Will Surely Follow

Special Correspondence to The Herald.
PHOENIX, Ariz.. Sept. 1s.-Within
the last two weeks notices Of intention
to construct 5000 miles Of new railroad
have been filed with the territorial Sec
retary Of Arizona. There were thirty
one separate filings. Of almost as many
separate lines Of new railroads. If a
quarter of them are ever constructed,
Arizona will have cause to congratulate
herself on the fact that her last legis-
struggle with wild-eyed dissenters in
both branches, finally passed law TO
the effect that all new railway lines on
which active work should be commenced
act should be exempted from all county.
municipal and territorial taxation for
period of fifteen years. This was known
as the bill to encourage the construc-
tion of railroads in Arizona, and Its
passage was bitterly but fruitlessly op
posed.
Under the terms Of the act, the date
for filing intention to construct new
line of railroad expired yesterday. On
the last day there was rush to the sec
retary's office, and nearly a dozen in
tention notices were handed in. From
the very passage of the law, however,
last March, there has been great activ-
lty in the matter Of new transportation
lines in the territory, and as direct re-
suit of the act at least half dozen new
railway companies have been organized
with heavy capital behind them all, and
with the almost absolute surety that
about 800 miles of new standard gauge
track being laid in the territory within
the next few years. To secure the bene-
fits of this exemption law, at least ten
miles of road must he laid each year, or
a sum of money expended not less than
$250,000
OF the many notices of intention fled
some of which, doubtless, will never
materialize into anything more definite
than roads on paper" the most i'm
portant of the bona fide lines is the big
trunk road that is backed by the Santa
Fe system. This line will connect the
Silver City branch of the Santa Fe. via
the great copper camp Of Globe, with
Phoenix and the affiliated line Of the
Santa Fe, Prescott and Phoenix rail-
way. There is no doubt that construc-
tion work on this line will be commenced
we'll within the statutory limit, of which
six months remain.
Next in Importance among the roads
that will be built is the Grand Canyon
line. This will start from Flagstaff or
Williams or the line of the Santa Fe Pa
cif1c and run to Bright Angel trail on the
Grand Canyons rim, through grand
forest region and through new copper
district, distance of seventy miles,
with branch lines to Cataract canyon
and along the canyons rim. This ROAD
will open up the grandest scenic feature
Of the continent, probably of the world.
Lombard, Goode & Co. Of Chicago are
the financial sponsors Of the enterprise,
which is managed by Mayor w. O..
O'Neil of Prescott. Both routes have
been surveyed, second company also
fling for a road from Flagstaff to the
canyons rim at Hance's.
Southern Pacific interests have also
been active, having filed intentions to
build two separate roads to Globe, one
by way of Mesa City, which is already
connected with Phoenix by branch
line, and the other from Geronimo. the
present terminus of the Gila Valley,
Globe and Northern. Another feeder
for the Southern Pacific will be the line
to connect Tucson with Calabasas on the
Sonora railway, which will probably
eupersede the New Mexico ard Arizona
line as the Southern Pacific highway
into Mexico.
Denver capitalists, chief among whom
ls A. E. Root, the well-known. mining
operator, propose to construct line
on the Santa Fe Pacific to the White
Hills. Either Kingman or Hancock will
be taken as the starting point.
Among the hoped for probabilities Is
the elaborate system of roads projected
by the Rio Verde Canal company, one
of the largest corporations in the terri
tory, which is heavily backed by Mime
apolis capital. This company has filed
intention notice to construct line dag
onally across Arizona from Yuma to
Flagstaff; and within the Salt River
valley to build a number Of branches
that would tap every point to be reached
by an immense system Of waterways al
ready under construction.
Following is complete list of the
notices Of intention filed with the Sec
retary Of territory:
For a narrow gauge railroad from
Guthrie on the Arizona and New Mexico
railway to Morenci, distance Of twenty
miles. Filed by VIM. Herring, attorney
for Phelps. Dodge & Co., owners Of the
Bisbee and Detroit copper mines.
Arizona and Coast railroad. from
Tucson to Calabasas, a distance of
seventy miles. The incorporators are
M. p. Freeman, H. ]. Donan. L. M.
Jacobs Chas F. Hoff and S. E. Hazard.
For a road from Phoenix to Globe,
via Tempe and Mesa. 100 miles. Filed
by Attorney E. e. Ellinwod on behalf
Of eastern capital.
From Mesa to Globe, running north
easterly through Pinal county. ninety
miles. Filled by E. E. Ellinwod, attor-
ney.
From Queen Wash on the road last
named to Florence, fifteen miles
Arizona Pacific railroad. from Craw-
ford. N. NJ. on the Santa Fe Silver City
branch, to Phoenix, with branches to
Clifton, to Morenci. to Globe and to
Benson, making IL. all over. 400 miles OF
railway. Edward J. Beard Is president
Of the company, James N. Porter Is vice.
president. John Blake secretary and I.
e. Solomon treasurer.
From Flagstaff. easterly and north