Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1903-02-09
Utah After Arizona With a Carving
Knife.

NhikCs
For many years the state of Titan
has coveted the northwest corner OF
ariznna-that section of the territory
which lies north of the Colorado river
Congress has power to alter the pouh-
daries OF the territory, of course anu
from time to time bills have been IN
PRODUCED in that body providing for the
ton of the territory desired by
our northern neighbors and its transfer
to Utah But, equally as matter OF
course, congress has refused to pass ali
such bills so long as Arizona wltnheiu
her consent. Now, the dispatches from
Salt Lake City inform us, an Official
deputation is on its way from the
Utah capital to Phoenix, with view
TO negotiating with our governor ana
legislature for the tract coveted HaV-
ing reached the conclusion with some
reluctance that Arizona's domains are
not to be lessened without her consent
it has been decided to see what can
be done at the captains office-it hav-
Ing been seen that q carving knife In
hostile hands is ineffective, it is pro-
posed to try the virtue of blandish-
ments.
1t has not been stated with authority
what proposition is brought by the
gentlemen from Utah, but it requires
no effort OF the imagination to an
ticipate what answer they will get
They will be received with cordially.
but the map-makers of the country
will not be interested by the results.
The embassy will be able to report to
Utah later, that the people of Arizona
are decidedly "sot'' in their ways, and
believe firmly in the good American
doctrine that territory once acquired is
to be held until the cattle come home.
This new land of Canaan SO long
sighed for by the Latter Day Saints Of
Utah. is not of itself the most valuable
real estate in the world. Our friends
in the east who are accustomed to ar
rive at real estate values by calcula-
tons on square foot basis, as in
New York or Chicago, would be sur
land can be purchased by the individ
ual It does not flow with milk and
honey. AT least the only honey is the
product of the wild bees, and the COWS
on the ranges are not noted for their
kdairy qualities.
In area. the region compromises
something less than 5000 square miles.
1T is about the size of Massachusetts,,
perhaps, and were 1t disposed OF it
would make no appreciable diminution
Arizona's magnificent empire. Geo
hically, it is divided from the rest
rizona by the Grand Canyon, and
D4hti1 airships are regularly in service
will not be directly accessible from
! this side. About one-third of it lies in
ohave county, and the remainder in
Eoconino. Little is known of the re-
gion, in reality. Its dormant assets in
the way of minerals may be very large.
At present it is mainly a grazing
country. 1t is possible that the people
of Arizona, busted with their own
affairs, have neglected to take careful
stock of the region, and that our
neighbors in Utah know more about it
than we do. Certainly. they have ex-
hibited a suspicious anxiety to acquire
land of supposedly little value.
Properly, We suppose, the officials of
Arizona might, upon the arrival OF the
Utah delegation. state their position
thus: We'll never part with this land
under any circumstances; how much
will you give for ito" And then, ii
Utah were able to talk millions, a real
estate deal Of some magnitude might
be arranged. Three million dollars,
say. eff Utah's money could be utilized
by this territory in constructing stor-
age works on the Salt and ella rivers
in case of a failure to connect with
the irrigation funds in the federal
treasury.