Arizona republican., 1906-05-27
THE IRON INDUSTRY
 CONTIGUOUS 10 PHOENIX
Professor PrOut and Party Making
 Further investigation.

Prof. J. w. Prout and G. H. Hirsch- field returned yesterday morning from Tucson, where they went to consult with Col. Epes Randolph concerning the recently located iron claims north west of Phoenix in the Pikes Peak dis trict and also for a trip to the Totai Wreck mine east oi Tucson Las. night Prof. Prout, L. F.. Hewins and Vernon L. Clark left with a spring wagon for the iron claims. expecting to go as far as Peoria and camp and drive on to the claims today They did not say just how long they expected 10 be gone.
 The trip it is understood is for fur ther investigation of the property and for more careful viewing of the sur rounding country in respect of railroad possibilities, reduction facilities. etc Considerable information was gathered yesterday about the possibilities of the project though it was somewhat specu- lative as nothing was given out off cially. It has been authoritatively stated that if further investigation establishes the facts already believed to be true. regarding the magnitude of this deposit and the quality of the ore, a railroad will be built to the property al an early day, a smelting site will be selected and a townsite will be laid out.
 The supreme interest in this enter prise lies in the fact that Colonel Ran dolph is the moving spirit in the busi- ness end of it. If the elements of sue cess are demonstrated there is no one more competent to achieve it in this particular instance than Col. Randolph. 1 The financing of the proposition will be the first hard work and railroad con nection will be a necessity. In both these matters Col. Randolph is well prepared to act. It is understood that Vernon L. Clark, who holds confiden- tial relations with Col. Randolph has been selected to look after the right oi way for a railroad and it is as sUmed that his visit to the property is mainly for preliminary ocular survey of the best route. It is further mat ter of public report that Prof. Prou- will very soon, perhaps on this trip, decide where he prefers to have the reduction plant and mills of the com pany located, after which a tOwnsite will be laid out and the development of the mines begun. It is understood that Col. Randolph will at once finance the company in Los Angeles and probably within a month surveyors will be in
 
 laying off the town site.
 While there are many things yet more or less problematicaI concerning this enterprise, all that has been heard of it is pleasing and plausible. If it proves the success it now promises to be it will be the biggest thing that has happened in this part of the country. T. will mean the building of big town near the property and it will make the work of the "Phoeriv 5O.0OO in 1915" club a mere holiday incident.
 That the deposit of iron is there is unprecedented. Prof. PrOut has been too long in the business not to know iron when he sees il and furthermore the existence Of this particular deposit is verified by many who are familiar with that section. It has been no secret to them. The only question is the actual quality of the ore and what can be done with it. If it shall prove to be suitable for the manufacture of steel the value of this enterprise can scarcely be calculated. And even if lacking in those qualities and yet suit able for foundry purposes it will stil' be a project immensely worth while