Arizona republican., 1909-06-24
D|SPLEASING NEWS
 FOR SOME PEOPLE PROPOSED RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING CERTAIN MAIL. Winkelman to Be Supply Point For San Pedro Valley Service,
 Instead of Tucson.

Assistant Superintendent Roberts of the railway mail service, who was in Phoenix last evening, announced his intention Of making some recom- mendatiOns concerning star routes that will probably not suit certain people, but which he believes are desirable for the good of the service ] This is particularly the case with the mail line running between Tue son and Winkelman. If his recom- mendation is favorably acted upon this line will be discontinued or rather substituted by a line to run from Winkelman in the direction of Tue son as far as Oracle, the nearest postoffice to Tucson on the present line, though thirty eight miles distant from Tucson. The thirty y-eight mile section will be discontinued at say ing of s2f00 per year. though the mail service to the pOstoffices served will be equally as good or better by the substitute line.
 At present the route is north from Tucson thirty-eight miles to Oracle. thence northeast twelve miles to Mammoth, thence north to Dudley vile and Winkelman, while a little side line runs from Mammoth to Copper Creek. By the substitute ser vice the line will head at the other end. Winkelman. run south to Dud- leyville and Mammoth, and from the latter place two little side lines will diverge, one to oracle. and the other to Copper Creek as at present. It is believed the mail service will be even more prompt, being less dis tance from the railroad to the towns served, and for the same reason the expense will be less. Heretofore the only objection to this plan has been the occasional floods in the Gila which temporarily preclude crossing at Winkelman. To overcome that objection Mir Roberts will recom- mend the building of a cable across the river at Winkelman for the transportation of the mail when the river is high.
 It is assumed that Tucson will register a protest for business req sons That city has always consid- cred Oracle. Mammoth. Dudleyville and in fact all San Pedro valley points her natural territory for busi- ness as indeed it was until the build ing of the road to Winkelman. Now, however, Winkelman is the natural railroad station for those back coun- try towns and the only way Tucson has been able to continue to control the trade of that section was by the maintenance of the stage line with six day service across the thirty eight miles of barrenness. That gave almost daily communication and with the favorable freight rates of other days Tucson has been able to com pete quite well in cross country traf- fife, even against the railroad via Phoenix Another thing that will no doubt irritate the Tucsonites is that Oracle is chiefly famous as resort in the mountains. being to Tucson, only in a smaller way. what Iron Springs is to Phoenix. The road will still be there but admittedly private conveyances are less desirable to be depended upon than a regularly con ducted stage line. with a mail con- tract to help out.
 Another recommendation MT Rob erts says he will probably make, will be apt to ruffle the fur of Phoenix. Tempe and Mesa City. though before it can become effective conditions may change. making it's adoption un- desirable This will be to cut off the mail contract between Mesa City and Roosevelt, as soon as the dam is finished It is held by Mir. Roberts that Roosevelt has entirely too good a mail service for a town of it's pop uatiOn. where the work has to be done by stage In other words stage lines from both Mesa and Globe are bit eXtravagant and as Globe is the nearer railroad point, Mesa must submit. It is admitted. however. that so long as the construction period lasts the amount of communication necessary between this valley and Roosevelt is ample excuse for the direct line. What it will be when the construction is completed can only | be guessed at now.