Arizona republican., 1910-04-29
A Grave Situation.


 confronted the mayor and council oi Phoenix. With them has rested the question whether this valley would have. or would not have. transcon- tinental railroad.
 This question is still unsettled. to some extent, but the council last night took a step in favor of a favorable settlement.
 Strange as it may seem the ques- tion of transcontinental line has hinged on a right of way in Buchanan street in front of two blocks And the situation still is: If the Buckeye railway can not build at once through the city of Phoenix, we must wait some years for the longed-f for main line" instead of getting it now
 The promoters of the Buckeye rail- way secured a right of way from the city limits to the Hassayampa river. forty eight miles west. together with a bonus of forty thousand dollars from property owners along the line. They tried in vain to secure capital for the enterprise. For awhile they even tried in vain to give away these valuable assets to the Santa Fc or the Southern Pacific
 At last-some two weeks ago-they made an arrangement with the Southern Pacific interests to turn over the right of way and bonus in consideration of the construction of the proposed line by the Southern Pa cific But the Southern Pacific in- terests insisted then-and insist now that they must have right of way through the city as well as the coun- try right of way before they can build
 Quite unexpectedly owners of i'm proved property in two blocks on Buchanan street. abutting upon the proposed right of way, interposed ob- jections against a grant from the city council of right of way in that street They urged that their property would be greatly damaged and that a satisfactory settlement with them must be made before right of way was granted.
 The Southern Pacific interests had been led to believe that this city right of way would be granted gratis. After some negotiation, however. they agreed that they would contribute s. 900 toward compensating the property owners It was found that in order to satisfy the property owners-the total value of whose property is less than s20.000-it would be necessary to pay at least s6O00... The council ap pointed a committee which tried yes citizens this extra amount. The coms mittee met with little success. Last night the council. through the mayor. had a conference by telephone with Col Randolph at Tucson. As a result of the conference the council later passed resolution granting the proposed right of way on the under 1 standing that the council may revoke | the resolution If the railway interests | and the property owners do not reach an agreement today. Meanwhile the railway people have deposited with i the mayor the sum of 5000 as evil dence of their good faith
 And there the matter stands. We are still not absolutely sure of the udnScontlnentdl line Wnicn tne construction of the Buckeye road I would assure.
 The country right of way and the | bonus have been donated on condition that the road shall be constructed to the Hassayampa river by July 3lst next This is less than 90 days. de- ducting Sundays and holidays in which to build railway. 4S miles in length, Every day is therefore pre- cious.
 Moreover. the Southern Pacific in- tsrests are not anxious to build the road-at this time. Talk of their having to build' is sheer nonsense. Their plans have. to be sure. con-