Arizona republican., 1904-05-27
NEW OBSTRUCTION
Further Interference With Phoenix & Eastern Ky.
President Murphy on the Situation. He Thinks the Work of the Arizona Eastern Is Solely for Obstructive Purposes - Points Out That Rail- roads Usually Have a Starting Point.

MT. F. NJ. Murphy, president of the Santa Fe, Prescott & Phoenix, and Phoenix & Eastern railways. is in the city, having returned yesterday from a trip through the southern part of the territory, where he has large mining Interests. He visited the mines of the Imperial Copper company. twenty twenty miles south of Red Rock, and spent two days at Tombstone.
 To a Republican reporter he stated that the mining operations at both Tombstone and at the Imperial com pany's properties are progressing satis- factorily. The great pumps are handling the water at Tombstone, and development and ore shipments are steady The shipment of ore from the Imperial cold Boo) mines awaits the Icompletion of the railroad from Red Rock. which is under construction. It is expected that the line will be com pleted and in operation before the end of summer.
 MT. Murphy was informed that the people of the Salt River valley are anx- ious for the coming of the day when they will be on transcontinental line of railroad, and he was asked how soon the Phoenix & Eastern would be com pleted to it's proposed eastern connec- tions. MT. Murphy replied that he could not fix the time definitely; it would depend to some extent upon the success of the so-called Arizona East ern railroad in obstructing the con He said he was surprised to learn, upon arrival in Phoenix. that the Arizona Eastern had renewed its obstructive tactics from which 1t had been re- strained by Judge Doan's injunction, issued several weeks ago; that when the injunction was dissolved, a few days ago. the Arizona Eastern promis- ed that it would not further annoy the construction outfits of the Phoenix x
 Eastern.
 But" he added, T understand that 1t was but a few hours until the old tactics were resumed. The grading outfits of that company which had dis appeared somewhere during the life of the injunction, reappeared from the brush and began working across.
 through and around our line. It Is ob- vious that if the Arizona Eastern gen. tlemen could have their way in all re- spects they might delay the completion of the Phoenix & Eastern. For these reasons I cannot fix the time when our through line will be in operation. But we are building a railroad, and propose to continue building it."
 Do you consider the Arizona East ern is project for a Southern Pacific line through this section of Arizona ?' MT. Murphy was asked.
 From the standpoint of a railroad man 1 do not see how it can be-" MT. Murphy replied. "The alleged con Istruction of the Arizona Eastern is at a point remote from any railroad now in operation. Were the Southern Pa cine company, or any com pany affiliated with it intend- ing to build. in good faith a railroad from some point on the Gila Valley, Globe & Northern railroad to Yuma or some other point on the Southern Pa cific. construction would begin from q railroad point. It would be natural to expect work to begin from San Carlos westward, or Mesa eastward, or Phoe- nix westward, or from Yuma or Senti- mel eastward, if as claimed, an actual railroad was contemplated.
 Instead. the operations of the Ari- zona Eastern have been confined to a section of the Gila valley which is seventy or eighty miles from the main line of the Southern Pacific, and forty miles or more from Globe, the terminus or the road whence supplies have been brought in. Consequently any work done by the Arizona Eastern must cost vastly more than if prosecuted with its initial point on the railroad. If when we began the construction of the Phoenix & Eastern had sent men and teams, grading outfits, etc, seventy miles beyond the railroad into the in- terior of Pinal county for the purpose or beginning work, the public would have been Justified in doubting my good faith or my sanity. As we view It, the movements of the Arizona East ern people are purely for the purpose Of obstructing-and preventing if pos sible-the completion of the Phoenix & Eastern, but I. do not think their programme will be tolerated."
 MT. Murphy stated that he would probably go to Prescott tomorrow. but would return to Phoenix in a day or two, and give Phoenix & Eastern mat ters his personal attention.