Arizona republican., 1910-04-29


 Phoenix to Yuma to be constructed within the next three or four years. But these same plans have provided for the construction of the Phoenix & Eastern through the Gila canyon to Lordsburg. and the line from Globe a free right of way and the bonus induced the Southern Pacific to con- slider the immediate construction of the Buckeye line
 If they have to be wooded around" a few days more. however, they will drop the project. once dropped-and the present bonus and right of way lapsed-the project will not be re- vived for two or three years. at least and perhaps much longer.
 | For some time there has been general assumption locally that the i Buckeye road project was a Southern Pacific scheme in the first instance and that the promotion of the scheme under local management was merely a shrewd move to secure a bonus and l free right of way. The Republican happens to know that this assumption is altogether incorrect. The most the Southern Pacific interests did in that ! connection was to say to the promo | ters. in substance: We will not fur | nish a dollar for construction. If you | can induce somebody to furnish the money for construction and take bonds therefor for the actual cost. and you will build according to our speci- fications, so that hereafter your road will be of value for our purposes: and if you will give us a satisfactory op- tion on all your stock for three years. we will give you our moral support. We will give you the benefit of al, our former surveys. and all that, but we won't do more"
 That they have receded from this position and undertaken 10 build at once is due altogether to the attrac- tive feature of the country right of lieved. will offset the certain loss in operation during the next three years
 So we have the extraordinary situa- tion presented of few owners of property on two cheap blocks being able, possibly. to prevent the con struction of the road We say "ex- traordinary'' for never in the his- tory of rights of way did people re- quire a city council to settle the ques- ton of damages. Questions of dam- ages are for the courts and juries.
 Practically every other city in the west is saying to the railroads. Build to us and we will give you free right of way through our streets" The council. out of a desire to be fair. made mistake when the application for right of way was applied for The application should have been granted. and proprty owners referred to juries of their fellow citizens for settlement of any questions of dam age.
 It is to be hoped that the outcome | will be satisfactory. If we have to i lose this railroad-and lose it we cer- | tainly shall if there be a delay of a l few days more-it will be an i'm measurable calamity to this commu- nifty.
 Moreover. dangerous precedent I has been set. The Republican hap pens to know that within a short time | the Fl Paso & Southwestern will ap- ply to the city for right of way on one of our streets. Is this appIica- ! tion to be held up until property l owners who may imagine that the coming of the railway will damage their property-or who may imagine that they see fine opportunity to make strike" are satisfied-is the application to be held up in this man. ner instead of referring the question of damages to the courts where it be- longs?
 Col. Watterson's Man on Horseback.
 Col Henry Watterson, the veteran democratic war horse and editor of the Louisville Courier-Journaf. has