Arizona republican., 1907-10-15

done by the home people. Attention was next called to facts that retart the valley through circumstances ovel which it has hitherto had no control as for instance the efforts of repre- sentatives of other sections, and now and then a railroad employe on tn, overland lines, whose influences divert ; travel elsewhere that would naturally come to this valley. The need of bet ter railroad facilities was discussed and finally some mention was made of the amount that might be raised for advertising.
 This latter idea has occasioned more comment in the community than any other within the week. The campaign was launched by proposition to raise s100.000. some time ago. Then it was cut in two and some believe it should be cut in two again, the amounts sug- gested being to cover say a year or two. but whatever is undertaken it is desired to have the work begun made persistent and effective. Opinion as to how much should be raised still differs and the board will no doubt be
 
 for a stipulated amount monthly that can be depended upon and fashion its suit according to the cloth. It is urged however, that the more money eX- pended, whatever the amount. the last dollar will be much more effective than the first. w. I. Murphy and Dr. Foss are of those who believe the val ley in the next two years could well afford 10 spend s100.OOO on its mar ket valuation of perhaps twenty-five millions. But if only a quarter of that can be made available in that period it is felt that it will be money well spent.
 The question of things that should be done by the home people before new corners arrive was gone into deeply and with a unanimity just as notable as on the bare question, Shall we advertiser" The key note was Clean up." Not merely clean Psoe> nix. but clean the ranches and espe- cially the roads among them. Fix the roads as fast as possible and make the good roads an advertisement to all who do come or hear of the valley. There was hearty approval of all this but it was pointed out by the chair that the board has a cleaning up cam paign already started and of which more will probably be heard very soon As to road building there is general approval but it was hardly pertinent to the question before the house. That will require concerted action or prop erty owners which the board will no doubt be glad to help also when it can. The main question was to spend a lit- tie money telling the people elsewhere about the Salt River valley, in the meantime doing these other things. ] Nearly every one who spoke. did so from his experience in travelling else where as well as his knowledge of this country. There was very general tes- | timony that the east is not enlightened as to this valley. It may have heard of Phoenix vaguely and it may have heard of the Roosevelt dam frequently but the valley and the dam are not associated together in the minds of those who have heard of them. Oth- CTS confound the Laguna and RoOse- welt dams and only know of them as great constructions without a knowl- edge of the lands below them. To get this information before the east will
 
 other.
 l Then came up the question of rail- road facilities. One speaker deplored the fact of necessary long waits at junction towns. particularly Maricopa. He said the necessity of waiting over night sometimes or frequently for sev- eral hours at Maricopa deterred a great many people from coming to Phoenix and felt that the connections should be better. He spoke of other features of freight and passenger transportation that he believed to be a discrimination against Phoenix both north and south, that ought to be cor rected. He said he was not inclined to be revolutionary but believed some reforms might be accomplished in that direction. w. J. Murphy in response said that it was no doubt true that some things ought to be and could be corrected if they were undertaken, though speaking generally of the rail- roads he said they had done a great deal for Phoenix and he believed were willing to do all they could when shown how they might He said that their colonization offices had repeat edly offered to place all printed mat ter and in one instance to pay for the printing. There was some discussion of the fact that people in the east were not aware of the fact that by paying s3.50 for a side trip they could drop off the main line and come to Phoenix for a short visit This ought to be given more publicity by the rail- roads as well as by the Phoenix peo- pie. Then came up the question of poor accommodations and connections at Maricopa. l.. H. Chalmers chanced to be on the floor at the time. He had been talking advertising in a general way and he then switched to the rail- roads. He said that he was a rail- road attorney, local representative of the Santa Fe and knew what he was talking about. He said it was un- doubtedly a fact that there is ground for complaint in some of these things. but he said the trouble lay chiefly with the people and not with the rail- roads. The latter are hustling for business and each man in his depart lment is doing his best and after all