Williams news., 1908-02-22
THAT NATIONAL MONUMENT
Grand Canyon, Feb. IA, 'OS. Editor Williams News:

I have not been in Flagstaff for over two years, but in some way l seem to have become a subject for gratuitous consolation by some of your exchanges since the creation of the National Monument" by the president. 1 suppose 1 should feel grateful 10 the consolators, but fail to see why I should thus be disturbed in the enjoyment CD of my own miseries by the public press. However, it will help to fill in as "space matter" in the ab- sence of more importa mt news items.
 The question of a national park for a portion of the Grand Canyon has been a subject for the consid- eration of the interior department for some time, and the president has twice recon mended it in an- nual messages to congress; but the general opinion of those in position to krow was that no such measure could be successful until the pend. ing geological survey was com pleted and report made as to the mineral and other resources of the region involved. Certainly no such wholesale "tie up" of the resources of the country was contemplated in the passage of the National Monument" act, and I feel reason ably sure that if the pros- pective mineral wealth of cer- tain portions included has been thoroughly demonstrated to the president these districts would have been excluded from the force of the order. The water power alone could be utilized to revolutionize the mining industries of more than one helf of the territory and not in any way mar or impair the scenic attractions. A four tracked rail way, fully equipped, could operate along the course of the river through out the granite section if it were possible to construct it, and its ex- istence would be practically un- known to the onlooker from the rim of the canyon.
 I do not think the intent of the authorities at this time is to in any way hinder legitimate mining in the canyon, and I doubt not but that it will influence greater develop ment on the high grade ore bodies. tor the low grade ores cannot be worked at profit under present conditions, as it will require power appliances, and as l now under stand the situation, this will not be possible.
 It is to be hoped that when the facts are fully made known to the powers that be permission will be granted for the construction of such appliances as will facilitate the realization of these pent up re- sources.
 Abraham Lincoln fully under stood the importance attached to our mining industries when he said it was out of our hills must come the money to pay the na- tional debt, and the part that the great Comstock mine played at the critical moment amazed the fnan- ciers of the entire world.
 Onef fact remains: Sufficient water supply on the south rim of the can yon for fifty miles or more is not available to visitors at this writ ing. There is not a drop of flow ing water to be found in the entire distance. Marking springs on the map does not seem to have the de- sired results, as is we'll known by the early prospectors, who were familiar with the Powell maps in the eighties. A very few springs (most of them doabtfuD exist at the bottom of the deep side canyons and are practically una vaila ble.
 Water cars are quite as common on the Canyon railroad az are pas senger coaches, and the problem for water supply for the major portion of this entire south side