Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1904-02-05
EAGER FOR STATEHOOD
Want statehood, hut DO
Not Want 1t to Come Double.
The washington Star saws:

| The Washington Star says:
| Mr. Sims Ely, Phoenix. Ariz, is at
the Arlington. Mr.. Ely is managing
editor of the Arizona Republican. He
talked enthusiastically today of the ter
ritory.
THE sentiment for statehood" said
Mr.. Ely, lis rife in the territory. The
people are thoroughly aware that GER
tain politicians favor the admission OF
Arizona and New Mexico as one state.
but are unanimously opposed To any
such proposition, and feel that Arizona
should be admitted to the Union as a
state. 1t is the opinion in Arizona that
the territory has a superior class of
citizenship. In expressing such an
| opinion, however. we do not mean to
disparage our sister territory. 1t is
well known that the white population
of Arizona is greater than that of New
Mexico
THE people of Arizona fully expect
TO be admitted TO the Unicn in the pres
ent session of Congress. We do not,
however, think the admission will take
effect for a year and will. of course.
have no say in the approaching presi-
Dental campaign. The interest in the
election in Arizona will, however. be
as great as in any state of the Union.
In the republican councils of the terri
tory Mr.. Roosevelt is very popular.
The prospects of the territory from
| a mining standpoint are inestimable.
In the near future It will lead the world
in the production of copper and gold.
The production of gold showed a mark
ed increase recently and every one is
proud of the territory
LAS Is we'll known, the people of
Arizona are also much interested in ir-
rigaticn. There are at present mora
| than six hundred miles of main irriga-
ton canals in the valley of the Salt
river. There are also several hundred
| miles Of lateral canals. The work of
constructing the Tonic basin reservoir
by the government is rapidly progress
ing. When completed 1t will cover an
area of twenty square miles ao1 will
risce 100000 acres of land under irriga-
ton. 1t is estimated that the cost of
constructing the reservoir will be So
| COO GEO."
The Washington Post also inter-
viewed Mr.. Ely.
THE matter in which we are princi-
pally interested out IL Arizona =" said
HeDlD-
lican, at the Arlington, lis the oues-
ton Of Arizona's admission to the
Union as a state. The phase of the
matter which affects us most acutely
is the proposition which has been made
and urged 10 unite Arizona and New
Mexico and admit them as one com
| monwealth. We are opposed to IT.
unanimously and unalterably.
There 1rf. r~1anU roo CONS 20
titude. In the first place. Arizona
wants to preserve her identity: in the
second piece, the proposed state would
I be unwieldy-1O0O miles long and 400
miles wide; in the third place, the two
, territories are divided by a chain of
mountains, natural barrier, and the
| larger population is IN New Mexico.
Rather than be admitted to the Union
as part Of New Mexico. Arizona
would prefer to remain a territory for
ever"
Mr.. Ely IS enthusiastic in regard to
the future of Phoenix. The government
is soon to begin work on the construc-
ton of the Tonic basin reservoir.
which. when completed, will be the
| largest in this country and exceeded in
! the world orly by that of IT, Mile
river dam 200 feet in height will
back up the canyon 1.4OO 600 acre feet
OF water. An acre foot is enough to
cover an acre to the depth of foot.
Phoenix is situated in the center os
the 9rea that this reservoir will irri-
"a te" said Mr.. Ely; IAN area which J
believe to De the richest and most fer
tile In the world. | have no doubt that
in five years after the completion of the
reservoir Phoenix will have a popula-
ton of at least q, OCO people