Graham guardian., 1899-02-17
PENETRATING THE GREAT COP
PER MINES OF ARIZONA
Vast Expanse of Grazing Lnnds-HiCh
Agricultural Valleys and Fruit Rails
ing Territory Line Its Pathway
THE MEN WHO BUILT AND
MANAGE 1T.

through which they pass. Ever.
growing metropolis, every area 0
, thriving agricultural country, @
t fruit growing section is but the re
suit of their close proximity to tn
great railway system and the very
superior advantages they enjoy b.
F such location. Giving little or n,
credit to the number of busy, en-
terprising and substantial feeder
which enter their substations alonl
their entire line, without whicl
; their bonds would not command
the premium awarded them in th,
great money centers of the world
Some of these feeders (so-called,
enter vast mining districts, which
obtain their carloads of ore from
subterrannean tunnels and great
systems OF Tram cars encircllng
miles of m ountain passes and deep
gorges, which in themselves con-
stitute systems of freight carrying
which have cost millions of dollars
to construct. And in return carry
great quantities of supplies to the
thousands of men who are engaged
in projecting these great enter
pfises.
Within the limits of our own
state, and more perhaps in the ter
ritoly of Arizona, little conception
is had of the immenslty of this in
dustry. Great coal mines are be-
ing opened up in Nevada and Utah;
vast sulphur beds are being ex.
perimented upon in Lower Cali
fornia AM adjacent Mexican dis
tricts, to say nothing Of the i'm.
monse copper mines, silver mines,
and gold mines attracting vast out.
lays of capital in moro immediate
locations in Southern California
and Arizona. The development of
all these mines, taken with the too
prevalent condition of their being
situated miles from a smelter, or
even sufficient head of water to
operate one-or to make possible
the transportation of ore to the
largo cities, is the occasion which
encourages the building of short
lines Of railway to these mines, or,
as referred to above, to connecting
mediums, for the transportation of
ore, or bullion as the case may be,
to the manufacturing centers of the
country.
The territory of Arizona con-
tairs within its limits no less than
o dozen of these subsidiary lines,
many of whir h have no immediate
connexions with any through
trunk line, but simply operate be,
tween points, as common carrier
of freights and mining apparatus,
giving little or no heed to passen.
ger Accommodations or conveniences
Their rolling stock is built with
special adaptability to its require,
ments, and their stations and term
inaI points maintain striking IN
divduality ut times ludicronB and
peculiar.
But when the summary Of the
years business is drawn, the grea,
volumn of profits earned by these
little railroads would open the
eyes of some Of the controlling
powers of our transcontinentaI
lines.
In this connection no line OF
road, considering its length, and
age, exceeds in capacity or com
pleteness the Gila Valley, Globe &
Northern Railway in Arizona.
The line is but 1875 miles in
length, extending from Bowie
Arizona, a junction point with the
Southern Pacific system ll5 miles
east of Tucson, and running for q
distance of thirty.fve miles through
Cochise and Graham counties in a
northwestern direction down the
San Simon wash to Solomonvllle
thence down the Gila river to Saf
ford, to Thatcher, Central, Pima
FIT. Thomas, and Geronimo, which
for more than two years was the
terminus of the road, until about q
year ago consent was secured from
the Apache Indians to build across
their reservation to San Carlos