Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1899-12-20
THE ROAD TO RAY
Strong Forces at Work to Bring
About It's Completion.

The business men Of Phoenix are
waking up to the fact that although
the carnival was q grand success and
a paying investment, there is another
practical proposition that smiles at
them through the haze left by parades
and masquerades. The wagon road to
Ray is fairly before Phoenix, and with
every indication of meeting with sub
stantial favor.
Mention has from time to time been
made in the columns of this paper of
this alluring mining district and the
feasibility of securing a direct thor
oughfare to it. The Republican at one
time sent out a special representative
to so over the proposed route in order
to secure estimates of cost of con-
struction and to investigate the new
camp that was and has since attracted
so much attention. The information
obtained was published and the con-
struction of the road was begun almost
Immediately by Mesa City. Men came
forward and offered their services. The
merchants gave provisions and imple-
ments and the ranchers supplied the
teams and wagons for transportation
of men and provisions to the seat of
opera tions. Many of the Phoenix mer-
chants wished to join issues with the
little city at the upper end of the val
ley, but their prOffers were refused.
The assistance of Phoenix was not re-
fused because it was not wanted; on
the contrary, the people of Mesa real
lied that that assistance was absolutely
necessary to the final success of the
enterprise. Mesa had made so many
apparent starts at one thing or another
and called on Phoenix for aid without
demonstrating the sincerity of it's in
tentions, that it was thought to be
child's play to go at the construction
of the Ray road in the same way. In
the past four weeks Mesa has raised
81, 800 and built the road half way to
the Ray, and now feels that it can
come to Phoenix and receive not only
the means to complete the road. but
thanks for the lead it has taken. 1t is
estimated that 81 800 will complete the
road and open communication with the
whole Mineral creek district.
w A Kimbau, William Newell, w.
J. LeBaron and Warren Shrine We're in
Phoenix yesterday comforting with the
board of trade soliciting committee,
consisting of Walter Hill, w. y. Watts,
George Buxton and Louis Melczer. Mr..
Kimbau remained in the city last
night in order that he might be on
hand this morning to start out with
the soliciting committee on its quest
for the $1,5O0. A thorough canvass of
the principal business firms will be
made, and from expressions already
heard it is believed that there viii be
no trouble in raising the money.
This is a most propitious time to open
the new road. During the winter and
spring there are days and sometimes
weeks when the Gila river is past ford
ing. The 500 men who are at work in
the district have not yet realized what
such a condition is, for since they have
been there the ella has not been up
more than a day or two at a time With
the road open to this valley and the
river shutting off all supplies from the
south the whole district viii gladly
come this way for all its supplies. The
Phoenix merchants know what it
means to get a customer into their
stores, and keep them there.