Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1912-01-31
PHOENIX EXPECTS A
MAIN LINE FROM SOUTH

PHOEN1X, Ariz., Jan. 20. Phoenix
is soon 10 be on the line Of trans.
continental railroad. whether the
Southern Pacific builds lis ella Box
Canyon road or abandons the project.
The new road will be built by the
III Paso 4 Southwestern for at least
a portion of the distance between
Tucson and Phoenix, coming either
all the way into the city and con.
meeting with the Arizona & California
line of the Santa Fe, Prescott &
Phoenix, or connecting nj some point
east Of Phoenix with an extension Of
the Santa Fe, Prescott 4 Phoenix.
Before the present week is ended the
FL Paso & Southwestern will have
100 additional men ut work making
new survey out Of Tucson in the di.
reetion Of Phoenix.
The recent grouping OF the various
Santa Fe lines, subsidiary to the main
line Of the system, is said 70 be one
Of the preliminary steps in bringing
about the realization Of the proposed
trsnscontinental line for Phoenix. IL
will be recalled that within a month
Fl Paso 4 Southwestern officials Wis.
tied Phoenix and went out into the
ella river country, spending several
days In looking over ground and ap.
parcntly investigating the feasibility
Of coming into this section. Al the
same time, Frank NJ. Murphy and sew.
eral Of his associate Officers Of the
Santa fe. Prescott & Phoenix, were
also on the ground and conferred with
the visiting officials of the T.. =. &
8. W. No definite announcement could
be secured from either party of Of.
ficials, although Mr.. Murphy gave out
sufficient intimation in facetious
interview that such project might
be contemplated, as TO give color 10
the belief that railroad construction
was contemplated.
Authoritative announcement is now
made from the offices OF the r. =. &
8. w. in III Paso that the survey of
projected line in the direction of
Phoenix is to begin this week and
that 100 men will be employed In the
work. That the FL Paso & Southwest
ern will come right straight through
Phoenix IL generally believed, rather
than that the Santa Fe will construct
an extension eastward, or even at
tempt 10 regain control Of the Phoenix
a Eastern. now operated by the Ari.
iona Eastern.
! Announcement was made two or
three months ago that $4,000 had
been appropriated by the Santa lie
| for the erection OF handsome new
depot In Phoenix and for the exten.
sion of tracking facilities and other
improvements in this section. IL il
now believed that this sum will be
employed not only in the erection OF
joint depot to be used by the Fl
Paso a. Southwestern and the Santa
Fe, but also OF increasing Of yardinp
and tracking facilities and the cree.
ton Of new freight houses necessary
30 take care Of the business incrcnse
which will naturally follow the con.
strueiion Of the proposed connecting
link.
Incidentally the decision Of the de
partment Of the interior relative q
the ella Box canyon controversy !,
awaited with much interest, for upon
that decision rests in no small meas
ure the probability Of Phoenix be
coming principal station upon tw,
trsnseontinental railroad lines.
Reliable information IL 20 the effee
that a decision has been reached IL
the iongpendins Box Canyon con
troyersy, and that IL is altogether Il
} favor Of the people. While this de
cisios confirms the expectations o
those who have held that a decision
In favor Of the 4. y. company woul,
have been little less than a crime, tn
tremendous influence Of the railroa,
lobby at the national capital ha
; been sufficient 10 suspend the deei
sion. and delay many projects do
pendent thereon TO the present date
The effect Of this decision will b
at once apparent in the revival o
several long dormant projects. depend
ant theraon