Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-04-14
Asking Congress TO Give Utah the
Arizona Strip,
SETS FORTH SOME REASONS.
People in That section cut on From
Capital Of Territory II becoming
A Land Of outlaws

The memorial sent by the CONNER
cial club to Congress, last week, IS as
follows.
TO the Senate and House OF Repre-
sentatiyes, Washington, d. c.
Your memorialsts, the Commercial
club Of Salt Lake city. Utah. respect
fully represent that on March 10 lsO@'
Hon. George Sutherland. representative
from the state OF Utah introduced the
following bill Oh, r. 1889 in the
house Of representatives.;
"Be il enacted by the senate ana
house Of representatives Of the united
States Of America, in Congress assem-
bled. That all of that portion OF Arl1-
ona territory which lies north ana west
of the center of the Colorado river -
hereby annexed TO and shall hereafter
be a part OF the state Of Utah. Pro-
vld6d. That the state of Utah shall,
within one year after the approval Of
this act by legislative enactment, ac-
cept the said described land as a part
OF the state Of Utah and establish or
extend county government over the
same
Your memorialsts earnestly ask that
this bill be passed and respectfully SUB
init the following statement OF facts
for your consideration;
THE section OF country the anneNa-
tion Of which 10 the state Of Utah Is
contemplated by II, H. l2i99, consists
Of all that portion Of Coconino ana MO-
jaye counties In the territory OF Ariz-
ona lying north Of the Colorado river
and Immediately south Of and ddjoln-
Ing the counties of Washington ana
Kane In the state Of Utah The in
habitans Of this strip, consisting
mainly of former citizens Of the state
Of Utah. are practically isolated from
business. social and political assocla-
tlon with the territory OF Arizona, BY
the Colorado river whose impossible
gorges render communication with the
capital OF the territory Of AgiZona and
the county seats Of Moiaye and Coco
nino counties not only arduous, dan
gerous and expensive but impractlc-
able from many obvious standpoints,
whereas such communication with the
capital OF Utah. and the county seats
of Washington and Kane counties.
Utah, is easy. natural and expeditions.
Because OF the existence Of this bar
rier to communication with other parts
of Arizona the inhabitants Of the
strip In question are prevented from
taking part In any Of the affairs OF
said territory Of Arizona, and the only
official Of said territory visiting the
said strip is the assessor, whose mile
age expenses under existing conditions
become a heavy charge upon the citi-
zens Of Coconino and Mojaye counties,
Arizona, who reside south Of the Colo
RADIO river.
1T now costs the county Of Coconino,
Arz. 81 400 annually to retain this
strip, outside of and in addition 10 the
expense of criminal proceedings; so
that, as consequence. the revenues Of
said county show an annual deficit
Your memoralists further ask the
attention Of your honorable bodies TO
the fact that because of the conditions
against which your memorialists pro-
test, the strip Is rapidly becoming n
resort for criminals and law-breakers.
who find therein comparative immun-
ity from punishment for their misdeeds
because OF the enormous expense in
volved In their arrest and prosecution
Furthermore the result contemplate
ed by the passage Of II, X. l24s9 Is ear
nestly desired, not only by the citizens
OF Utah who 1--we in the counties Of
Washington ana Kane. which are con-
tiguous to the said strip but also by
the citizens of Arizona who are resi-
dent upon said strip as Is shown by
the petition which your memoriallst
has had the honor 20 transmit to the
senators and representatives. Of the
state Of Utah in Congress.
In conclusion your memorialist sub
mlts that the strip Is now useless
and burdensome to the territory Of
Arizona that geographically and by
reason Of the natural boundary made
by the Colorado river II, Of right
should belong TO the state of Utah. and
that whereas now the residents Of
Utah doing business and owning prop |
erty In this part Of Arizona get no
protection from the said territory and |
thieves and robbers commit depreda- |
tons with immunity while the honest |
citizens Of said strip are subjected |
10 numberless Inconvenience and am
noyances. the favorable consideration |
by your honorable bodies Of II r, 12499
would correct and change these unfor-
tunate conditions. and prove a source
Of general satisfaction 10 AN the par |
ties In interest
And as. In duty bound, your memoir
Iallsts win ever pray etc
COMMERCIAL CLUB.
By W. A. Nelden. President |
Salt Lake city Utah, April II. 1902.