Arizona republican., 1902-04-05
PHoENIX, ARIZONA, APRIL 5, 1902
The emigration movement from the

west is the greatest the A POINTER country has ever seen. FOR OUR In one day of last week RAILROADS. more than two thousand
 emigrants went through Minneapolis and St. Paul. Since the movement began. a few weeks ago, the Great Northern railway alone has handled nearly fifteen hundred carloads of household effects and about three hundred carloads of live stock for set tiers along it's line. This remark able emigration is altogether due to the Great Northern and Northern Pa cific railroads. James J. Hill and his associates in those properties determ- ined several months ago to make known systematically the attractions held out for settlers by the country traversed by the two roads mentioned, and the project then formed is being carried out with energy and intelligence. The resources of the northwest country have been advertised through the coun- try east of the Missouri river, and the railroads have made it plain that in ad- stand ready to build up their territory in every possible way.
 The success of MT. Hill in diverting to the bleak northwest a tide of emi- grafton such as has seldom been seen in the history of the United States should be a pointer for the able gentle men who are at the head of the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific railways. The cold and desolate regions served by the Pacific railroads Of the far north are not to be mentioned with the southwest when natural attractions for settlers are considered. What has been done by the Northern Pacific and Great North Southern Pacific and the Santa Fe If they would only take hold of the ques- tion in the proper way.
 To be sure, they have met the induce ments held out by MT. Hill. by putting into effect a very low rate for passen- gers from the east to Arizona and Cal ifornia, but this is not enough. In moderate way they advertise Califor- nia's advantages for settlers, but they neglect Arizona almost altogether. In- deed, the influences in control of the two great trunk lines which cross this territory appear to have but a limited Knowledge of the agricultural resources of, the great empire included within the bousldary lines marking Arizona.
 These railroads have it within their power to create conditions which would cause q speedy increase of the terri tory's population to 100000 souls. All they need to do is to lend their assist ance in increasing the water supply for Irrigation in the valleys of the Salt and Gila rivers. By assisting in pro viding water storage for the region ad- jaeent to Phoenix, Florence and Gila Bend, the most productive farming sec tion in the union would be developed The Salt River valley alone, under an
 
 nish more traffic for the railroads than is now obtained from all Arizona. Not only would every dollar expended by the railway people in securing storage return a direct profit on the investment. but the greater returns in the way of freight carried out of the valley would prove a permanent gold mine for the transportation companies.
 Some of the Santa Fe officials appear to have recognized the situation more or less clearly, but in the past their efforts have been in the wrong direc- ton. They were buncoed into the be- lief that national irrigation" would solve the question for Arizona, but it is doubtless clear to them by this time that there is nothing in that proposi- tion for this territory.
 The people of the valley are trying for themselves to solve a problem which no less concerns the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific. Should the county programme prove impossible of execution. the railroads ought to come to the rescue. And we are not willing to believe that MT. Ripley. MT. Harri- man and their associates are less anX-