Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1917-04-01
Phoenix Upon
Main Line IS
NOw Possible

What is said to be the most ambi-
tious railway venture yet planned in
Arizona railway circles and one which
means, indirectly. the placing Of Phoe-
nix upon a main line as well as affect
inc a direct connection between Mesa
and Clarkdale, was presented to the
Arizona State Corporation commission
yesterday. 1t means, say some au-
thorities, that the dream Of 20 years
for main line for Phoenix may be
realized within the year because those
who are authoritatively informed be
lieve that the Tucson, Phoenix &
Tidewater will have its lines into
Phoenix before another year has
passed
It has been rumOred for months that
it was planned by a group of Arizona
financiers, at the head of whom is
James S. Douglas of Douglas, to build
a railroad between Clarkdale and Me-
sa, giving the new smelter town a di
rect outlet to the east. Douglas is the
principal owner of the United Verde
Extension at Jerome, for the benefit of
whose smelter the line between Clark
dale and Mesa will be built. 1t is said
that in order to have the new line
make proper connections it will be
necessary to build the Tucson, PhOe
nix and Tidewater up to Mesa, and
then into Phoenix, where it will have
an outlet to the coast over the Parker
cutoff of the Santa Fe.
Rumor Becomes Reality
The rumor that the line was to be
built between Mesa and Clarkdale be-
came a reality yesterday when the
Arizona Extension Railroad company
filed petition with the corporation
commission asking for permission to
issue $4,000 COO par value of its cap
ital stock and $4000,OU0 gold bonds to
be secured by first mortgage or trust
deed to be executed in proper form.
The company states in its petition that It
is organized under the laws of the state
for the purpose of building a road on q
direct line 100 miles in length between
Mesa and Clarkdale, with branches eX-
tending to the proposed smelter and
reduction works of the United Verde
Extension Mining company.
The petition states that it is the in
tention of the company to start opera
tions at once; in fact the major portion
Of the right of way has been secured.
together with ample terminal facilities
in Mesa and Clarkdale.
There seems to be no doubt in the
minds of state officials and others VINO
were made aware of the petition yes
terday, but that it means a main line
1
the Parker cutoff of the Santa Fe
is not doing any great amount of busi-
ness. There is a s3,o00,000 bridge
across the Colorado, which is not car
rying the traffic it was intended for,
and the fact that Douglas is friendly
with the Santa Fe all seemed to indi-
cate that when the Tucson Phoenix &
TideWater is built north from Tucson
through Florence, thence to Mesa and
Phoenix, this would be the logical
route for that line to make its outlet
to the coast. Then, too, it was pointed
out that the former Spreciles line, now
part of the Southern Pacific, which is
being built through the Imperial Valley
to Yuma, will reach the latter place in
a short time. 1t might be possible that
it is planned to extend the Tucson,
Phoenix & Tidewater out through the
Buckeye country, tap that rich farming
district and thence south TO Yuma.
Stock and Bonds Necessary
In the petition asking the corpora
tion commission for permission to issue
the $4,000, 900 in bonds and stock, it is
stated that it is the intention of the
company to build a railroad from a
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