Weekly journal-miner., 1909-03-31
SANTA FE OFFICIAL
 BOOSTS FOR ARIZONA
From Thursdays Da1vl


 panies of 1907 may be considered slow by the people of the territory, but my opinion is that it will soon be again enjoying a prosperity more permanent and lasting than ever before.''
 This was the statement made yester- day by George T. Nicholson, third vice president of the Santa Fe system, who stopped over here on his way home to Chicago from a tour of inspection of the southwestern interests of his com pany.
 Vice President Nicholson arrived here yesterday morning from Phoenix and Castle Hot Springs. He is accom- panied by J. E. German, freight traf- flee manager, and W. J. Black, passen- ger traffic manager of the Santa Fe. The party was ehaperoned while here by F. P. Cruiee. The visitors were shown the many points of interest in the city. They were also the guests of Captain Palmer at Fort Whipple, where they inspected the new build ings erected there in the last three years.
 Vice President Nicholson visited the Roosevelt dam and was driven through the Salt River valley. He regretted being unable to visit the Arizona and California railroad country, the miner. al possibilities of which are now at traeting the entire mining world.
 "Arizona's opportunities for invest ment have been OverlOked in the past,r he said, 'but the country is awaken ing fast to it's resources. Investors nave passed by to locate in California, Nevada and other states. The great est opportunities in the country are here and the people of other states are beginning to realize it. There is a great immigration westward noticeable this year. Land is at premium in other states. The staked plains of twenty years ago are now under cultivation and even there land is commanding fancy prices.
 "Arizona is not only rich in mineral but in agricultural resources. The re- clamation service has done much for the Salt River valley and is going to keep the good work going. After the completion of the Roosevelt dam an ir- rigation project will be started at Par ker, where there are 200,0O0 acres of land that can be reclaimed and made to support thousands of prosperous families.
 ''I am reliably informed that the Humboldt shelter will be started soon. This will improve local conditions. With the return of greater activity I look for new outlays in railroad con structiOn. Railroads develop a eoun- try. They are business rather than philahthropic institutions. The rail road and business interests are identical and should be harmonious. The cost of living has increased in the last few years, so has the cost of railroad op- eration Coal and oil are dearer com than in past year and the wages of railroad men are gradually rising I am an advocate of high wages for railroad men and I know that no director of the Santa Fe ad voeates low wages The men spend their earnings in the towns where they reside. adding to the volume of trade and assisting in the building of the community.
 ''Next in importance to railroads in the advancement of the development of a country is good roads. This is more important in recent years since have become so popular. Tourists now travel through the eOun- try wherever possible in automobiles. They are attracted to the localities where the roads are good and many of them invest in the places they visit. Imagine 1000 carloads of automobiles shipped to points west of the Missouri River in year and the necessity of good roads is apparent.
 "There has been a general advance in the development of the southwest in the last twenty years. The coming twenty years will be on improvement ,n the last. l am not an Optimist, but feel safe in making the statement hat in the next twenty years the San la Fe railroad will be a double track inc across the continent. The develop nent of the country will surely de- nand and justify it."