Arizona republican., 1914-03-30
Visit of Chief Engineer Isaacs of Hartman Lines Gives Rise to Belief Con- struction May Begin at Early Date
sFROM BUCKEYE ON TO YUMA
Completion of Extension Westward Probable, Civ ing Opportunity to Divert Through Trains by Way of Maricopa

Is Phoenix soon to be upon the main line of the Southern Pacific?
 Are the transcontinental trains of the system to be routed through the capital of Arizona in the near future?
 Was the visit of J. D. Isaacs, chief engineer of the Hartman lines, and J. Q. Barlow, assistant engineer, without particular significance?
 These are the questions that are be- ing asked by those who profess to be able to tell by straws the way the wind is blowing, especially a railroad winu.
 That the so-called Buckeye railroad is to be extended from Hassayampa river to Yuma and that the through trains of the Southern Pacific will then be diverted through this city, east and west is generally believed despite the denial of Isaac and Barlow in that respect.
 Chief Engineer Isaacs arrived in Phoenix on Friday, coming here in the office car Sierra Nevada. Assistant Engineer Barlow arrived the same day from San Francisco, travelling in the office car Pacific. They immediately undertook an inspection of the local lines and on Saturday, accompanied by | Superintendent C. M. Scott, went down to the Hassayampa river, the end of the Buckeye line. They left yesterday morning without divulging anything concerning their visit.
 This is the first time in many months that either of these officials have been in Phoenix. Coming here so soon after the filing of the articles of incorporation for the Tucson, Phoenix and TideWater Railroad, a line that promises to place Phoenix upon it's first transcontinental line and the known determination of the Southern Pacific to ultimately make Phoenix its most important point in Arizona, lends color to the belief that the Southern Pacific has awakened to the necessity of prompt action if it is to retain rail- road supremity as far as Phoenix and the Salt River Valley is concerned.
 It was never claimed that the Has
 
 of the Buckeye railroad It has always been understood that ultimately the line would be extended on to Yuma. The holding up of the Gila Box Canyon projected line, which has been looked upon as the logical eastern connecting link has been considered the reason for the holding up of the extension Of the western line. Had there been no nov on the part of a competing line to cute
 the field and make a bid for the pres tige the Southern Pacific has consider ed to belong to it rghtfully. the pro-
 feet to extend the Buckeye line would probably never have come up until the final determination of the disposition of the San Carlos or some other east ern connection.
 According to the rumors that have gained wide circulation the past two or three days. the Southern Pacific is aware that it will be simple matter to extend the Buckeye line to Yuma, divert the main line trains through
 Phoenix. utilizing the big shop and
 general office facilities recently com
 pleted here and at once be in a position to announce to the world that Phoenix
 is upon it's main line. This would tenn porarily solvethe main line question porarily solve the time for arriving at a decision with respect to the connecting line with the east.
 No person would be greatly surpris- ed if in a few days parties of survey
 ors arrived here and were immediately sent down into the Hassayampa coun- try. Even this would not be absolutely necessary for the Southern Pacific all ready has projection from the Has, Q sayampa to Yuma. The line could be
 built in a very short time, few weeks e at the most. The coming of Isaacs ant Q Barlow is believed to be the first steT
 in that direction.