Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-11-12
MATHER BELIEVES
GREAT EMPIRE IS
IN THE MAKING
ROCK ISLAND PRESIDENT
THE GUEST OF ARIZONA
Declares the Real Credit for
Reclamation Policy is Due to
Plain Lawyer of San Fran
CiSCoi Approves Roosevelt.
Especial correspondence Morning yournai.l

Especial Correspondence Morning Journal
Prescott, Ariz., Nov. 10.-That Ari-
IONA is the coming great empire of
the southwest is the conviction of
President Robert Mather, of the Rock
Island system, who was the guest of
the people of Prescott at a big BAN
quet at the Yavapai club Friday night.
+. NJ. Murphy was the host of the oc-
casion, Mr.. Mather being chaperoned
by that gentleman on an inspection
trip Of the southern Arizona mining
district and the irrigation project for
the reclamation of the Salt River val
ley. Mr.. Mather and friends left for
Chicago Saturday. About fifty promi-
nent citizens attended the banquet,
among the speakers being Mr.. Muir
ply, Judge c.. F.. Ainsworth, of Phoe-
nix; Attorney" General Clark, Charles
l.. Norton, Mayor Morris G~oldwater,
D.. NJ. Riordan, of Flagstaff and Los
Angeles; II. l.. Hollis. of Chicago; Paul
p. Hastings, general freight and pas
senger agent of the Santa Fe, Prescott
and Phoenix: Major f. w. Foster, of
Fort Whipple; Superintendent w. F.
stanton, of the Tombstone CONSOLE
dated Mining company; John Mason
Ross and r.. N. Fredericks.
Following the opening address of
the host. Mr.. Mather was presented.
In his comments upon what he had
SftH huIibk MS WISH III AiiLbildf iN
disclosed himself to be a splendid OBJ
server and a student Of conditions. He
said in part:
IL have obtained a new impression
of Arizona. From what / had seen
out of the car window. heretofore,
while passing through this territory.
! had considered Arizona a mere speck
of sand in this country. | was amazed
at the revelation of beauty in Arizona.
] had no idea there was such a vast
extent of land susceptible to irriga-
lion. One Of my great experiences
was my visit to the Roosevelt dam.
II Is one of the marvels of the world.
Engineer Hill informed me that II
would be capable of ~impounding 80
per cent more water han the great
AssOuan dam. which has been one of
the proudest achievements of the
British government. IL eclipses that
wonderful engineering feat on the
Nile. The lands to be irrigated by II
are equal to the entire southern por-
ton of California south of the Teha-
chapi, and right here i'm Arizona,
there Is to be reproduced a veritable
empire. The government also has in
and a project for %irrigating 100000
acres of and that will be made TO
blossom as the rose and, incidentally,
make more dividends for the rail-
roads. II Arizona could make 1t plain
10 lne east the extent OF It's great pos
sibilities the eastern idea of II would
oon change. II would be known as
the garden spot of the west. 1t is need
less for me to say that the citizens of
Arizona appreciate the act that the
policy of President Roosevelt is large
ly responsible for these great projects,
but | wish you to remember that the
birth of the movement for the recla-
nation of arid lands Is due more to
a plain lawyer Of San Francisco. who
initiated the idea and who carried 1t
to the very doors OF the white house.
That nan is George b. Maxwell, TO
whom l ask o to drink this toast"
Continuing, the speaker said:
Whenever q pioneer community
has planted in its midst a man of en-
ergy. resources, character and brav-
cry. that man should be crowned In
his community. Such a nan is Frank
NJ. Murphy. To whom | ask you to join
me in drinking this toast"