Arizona republican., 1910-01-13
A Year of Great Promise.

for instance. the consummation of water, storage and the abundant irri- gation of the valley, the construction of modern and adequate hotels, the installation of a complete sewer sys- tenn. and the improvement of streets. with a vast amount of miscellaneous building-is likely to see Phoenix made a much more important place on the railroad map of the country.
 Among the strong probabilities are: A line by the Santa Fe interests from Phoenix to Red Rock and Silverbell, thence to a port on the Gulf of Cali fornia: d connection between this line and the Fl Paso & Southwestern, and a new through line from Phoenix to Denver by the Southern Pacific in terests. -.--
 If Mir Frank M. Murphy is able to carry out his plans, the projected road from Phoenix to tidewater on the gulf-a line less than three hun dred miles in length-will certainly be begun this year. A natural se
 quence of the success of this project would be the construction of a con- meeting link that would bring the Fl Paso & Southwestern into the Salt River valley.
 The Republican is not in possession of any information relative to the Phoenix & Gulf line beyond what was stated publicly by President Murphy on his last visit to this city: which, as our readers will recall, was to the effect that the prospects were be- lieved to be excellent for success-it being impossible. however, to forecast results until tentative plans had been more fully matured. The desirability of such a line from the standpoint of MT Murphy and his associates in the mining industry is obvious. They al- ready own and are operating a rail- road from Red Rock to Sasco and Silverbell, twenty miles in length The great copper mines at Silverbell have proved to be of such extent that the proposed short line between Silver bell and the sea would be of prime value to the copper company. The line through Mexican territory (north- western Sonora) would traverse rich but wholly undeveloped mining coun- try. and altogether the proposed road from Phoenix would be one of the most valuable lines that Mir. Murphy has added to the Santa Fe system.
 The through line to Denver" is a project on the eve of actual accom- plishment, and yet it is doubtful whether dozen citizens of Phoenix appreciate the fact.
 Southern Pacific line from a point on the Gila Valley. Globe & Northern to Durango, Colorado. is settled fact Construction is already under way on the northerly end. Pri- marily this road. originally conceived by Col Epes Randolph. was sug- gested to the late MT Hartman as desirable line for the purpose of bringing central Arizona into direct connection with the great coal fields at Durango. MT. Hartman approving. heavy investments were made in Du- rango coal lands. and the cepstruction of the road was made a part of MT. Harriman's definite program-the actual location of the line through Arizona being left to Col. Randolph's judgment Col Randolph's plan is to extend the Phoenix & Eastern from Winkelman through the Gila Canyon to San Carlos. connecting at San Car los with the Durango line.
 The completion of this project will place Denver one hundred miles near CT Los Angeles than it is by any railway now in operation. That it's construction would be followed by the operation. of through trains, Denver to Los Angeles, Wa Durango ana fnOe- nix. is certainty. And Denver itself ! will not be the terminus for through | trans-solid trans from Chicago to i Los Angeles, via Denver, Durango | and Phoenix. operated by the Union Pacific Southern Pacific. will be the thing.
 So much for the probable lines.
 The construction of Rock Island l line through this sectioh is a possi- bility, but as yet only a possibility | The Rock Island management is one of the most daring and ambitious in the United States. The group of | financiers who control that system have looked with. longing eyes on the Pacific coast for years. But power ful and ambitious as they are, they were held in check by the wonderful l Hartman, with whom all railroad | builders had to reckon. With the passing away of Mir. Hartman there was return of courage to financial |