Arizona republican., 1910-04-12
The Changing Railway Map.

The Engineering and Mining Jour nal reports that the Fl Paso and Southwestern railway has just pur- chased steel rails sufficient for l50 miles of track. This happens to be just about the quantity of rails sufficient to extend the Phelps Dodge road into Phoenix.
 This circumstantial evidence Of the extension plans of the Fl Paso X Southwestern is not needed, however, tO substantiate the reports that this railway has definitely determined to build to Phoenix. The people of this community can safely rely upon see ing the Fl Paso X Southwestern in operation to this city within a year from this date
 The plans of the Fl Paso & South western and of other ambitious roads have taken sufficient shape to in terest the two great transcontinental lines which hitherto have considered the southwest as their joint and ex- elusive territory. A dispatch from San Francisco, which bears all the earmarks of truth, states that the future railway map of Arizona and California had the earnest attention Of President Lovett of the Southern Pacific and President Ripley of the Santa Fe. at their conference the other day. The conclusions they are said to have reached are of excep- tional interest to this section.
 For instance. it is stated that the as to the future status of the San Diego Yuma line, which has been under slow construction by the Spreckels brothers. The Spreckelses have expended so far some s2.000,00o in building this road, and they have been looking for more capital. Be- fore the death of MT. Hartman they had reached a tentative understand ing with him that he would see that they got the additional funds needed . to complete the road to Yuma. The Santa Fe was objecting, however, and nothing more was done by MT. Har- riman. The Santa Fe now has the only overland line into San Diego, and it naturally wishes to maintain it's position At the San Francisco fE enA arf Lovett pointed out to President Rip ley that unless the Southern Pacific interests were permitted to finance the Spreckels road these gentlemen would doubtless, sooner or later. form a combination with the Rock Island and Fl Paso & Southwestern. and thus assure the construction of new transcontinentaI line into southern California. MT. Ripley. il is said, withdrew his opposition, and the Southern Pacific will accordingly go ahead and complete the Spreckels road from San Diego to Yuma.
 This news is very interesting to Phoenix The construction of the Arizona Eastern from Lordsburg, New Mexico, to Yuma, via the Gila and Salt River routes-which will be an accomplished fact within two or three years at most-will give to Phoenix a Southern Pacific straight line to san Diego, and a still shorter line to Los Angeles. on account of the lessened distance to Yuma.
 According to the san Francisco story, another subject of the con- ference between MT. Ripley and Mr.. Lovett was the proposed Arizona Eastern line to Durango, Colorado. This project is said to have MT. Ripley's cordial approval A year or two ago when the Southern Pacific interests held a very large block of Santa Fe stock and had two directors on the Santa Fe board, Mir. Harri- man did about as he pleased with out consulting the Santa Fe. But now the Santa Fe is strictly inde- pendent road. and when railway maps are changed in its territory it has something to say about it. By consenting to the Arizona Eastern Durango project. the Santa. Fe helps to protect the southwest from pos sible invasion by the Goulds from Colorado.
 But the essential fact Is that these agreements mean more railroads for Arizona. And the Fl Paso & South western will come to Phoenix. regard less Of the approval or disapproval of the Southern Pacific and the Santa Fe.
 The Calf Man.