The Florence tribune., 1900-06-23
RAILROAD TALK.
Interview with R. N. Truman, Manager of
 the Ray Company.
From the Phoenix Republicans ]

Mines Ltd. company.
 Mir. Truman was interviewed yes terday at the Hotel Adams, and though he announced that there was little to say, what little he did say was inter- esting and to the point. "The Ray company is going to build railroad or see that one is built to the Mineral Creek district," said Mir. Truman That is one feature of the situation that can be accepted as finally deter mined, and Phoenix can act accord ingly.
 Mir. Truman said in substance that the Ray company was enjoying full fillment of its highest expectations in the development of its prop erty, and the time had now arrived when the building of railroad was not mat. ter of idle dreaming, but a business proposition. The company needed g railroad and proposed to have it. Il they had to build it themselves they would consult their own interests nat. urally, choosing the shortest and cheapest route, all things considered It had been represented to him that the people of this valley would like to see the route connected with the capi- tai city, and he was anxious to learI just how badly the people of this val. ley want road. Red Rock has thus far presented itself to the company as the most practical and feasible point of connection, but it takes money to build even small railroad, and Mir Truman left the infere nee that if sui icient encourage ment is offered te make it an object to come this way the road woul follow. He had nc definite propos ition to offer, as, to uss his own words, ''he had simply pre- sented the question to the Phoenix business men; propositions from all sides can be considered later"
 The business of the Kay company, as everybody knows, is the production oi copper. They can probably build 8 railroad themselves, but doubtless they would much rather some other corpora. tion would undertake the enterprise when their own interests would cause them to lend it all possible encourage ment.
 At rough estimate it will probably take a million dollars to build and equip road to Ray, and business men who know the conditions believe that the Ray could be induced to take ol place at least half the bonds. This with the freight patronage of the com psny, should amount to removal of z large part of the financial mountain that stands in the way of the enter prise.
 At any rate, the question is now opened and il is up to the local pro moters to see what can be done.
 Speaking of the mining enterprise, Mir. Truman said the recently com. pleted six-mile railroad from the mine to the mill is working successfully, about 800 tons of ore being handled daily. The mill at Kelvin, under the superintendency of Mr. Wilcox, was started up last Wednesday,, and is rum ming smoothly, and by the first of July will be running day and night turning out from sixty to seventy tons of con centrates every twenty-four hours. The concentrates are now hauled to Red Rock for shipment.
 Asked about the traction engine, Mir. Truman said it was success as far as it goes, but in order to handle their output and do it economically there should be several of them. This would involve an expenditure that would go long way toward building railroad, and when completed would not be so convenient.
 Kelvin is prosperous and now has population of probably 800. The suit against Leonard Fry, which involved a dispute of the Kelvin townsite, has been amicably settled the flat is being laid out in regular streets and 8 water system is being installed. Families and parties desiring to enter any legitimate business outside of starting saloon are encouraged and given liberal leases of property.
 Mir. w. Davey is foreman of the mine and came there recently from Michigan. The work under his charge is progressing nicely. Other officers of the company are Mir. Heberlin, chemist; Dr. Drake, medical officer, and Mir. Wise, superintendent. Mir. Alexander Hill is the consulting engin- eer, and upon his advice the general work is conducted. There is at the mine population of probably 500.
 Mir. Truman left last night over the M. & P. for Los Angeles, where he will be for few days on business and will return to Kelvin by way of Red Rock.
 You may as well expect to run a steam anuina vithout water as to find