The Coconino sun., 1919-03-14
Governor Urges Exploration
 of Strip North of Canyon

should at once take steps to bring tC the attention of the residents of this commonwealth the possibilities of tht strip of territory located north of tho Grand Canyon-land which the state of Utah recently made futile effort to have added to her own boundaries Gov. Thomas E. Campbell address, ed brief message to the members of the legislature, in which he placed his seal of approval on the proposal re- gently made by State Land Commis. sioner w. A. Mouer that commission be named to make an exploration trip into the territory in question and make a report as to the future of az ricultural and cattle business therein
 The message of Gov. Campbell to the legislature is as follows:
 Phoenix, Ariz., March 8, 1919.
 To the Members of the Arizona State Legislature, State House, Phoe- nix, Arizona.
 Gentlemen: The desire of the state of Utah to annex certain territory be- longing to this state, known as 'The Arizona Strip" has brought to the at tention of the people of this state the fact that we are the owners of an un- developed domain of great potential value. Several years ago a recon naissance trip was made intoa this practically hitherto unexplored terri tory and sufficient data gathered to demonstrate that further investiga- tion would prove the wisdom of an ex- haustive survey to the end that this area be made part of our producing lands and thus add to the wealth of our state.
 I am in receipt of a letter from Hon. William A. Mouer, state land commissioner, which is attached here to, and made a part of this message, in which he lays stress upon the i'm portance of complete report upon the Arizona Strip" and recommends an appropriation therefor. To his recommendation subscribe, believ- ing that money thus directed would be an investment from which the state would eventually reap large returns.
 Respectfully yours,
 THOMAS E. CAMPBELL.
 The letter from Mouer to Gov. Campbell referred to in the above message is as follows:
 My Dear Governor: l have long realized the importance of a complete report on the land lying north of the Grand Canyon, within the state of Arizona. Especially have 1 thought such report would be of great benefit to the state since the committee ap- pointed by the governor of Utah vis- ited Phoenix a short time ago.
 In submitting my budget to the leg islature for the fiscal years of 1919 and 1920 I did not include an item that would cover the expense of such investigation, as my budget is less than it has been in previous years and I would suggest, if you favor this eff fort to get report on this district, that you address special message to the legislature, asking for an ap- propriation of possibly as much as S10,O0O for that specific purpose, to be expended through the state land department.
 My plan would be to send by auto mobile, as soon as weather conditions would permit, a party composed of possibly four men; one of whom would be a competent civil and mining en- pineer; one who would be authority on agricultural aad stock raising con ditions and the other two to be gen eral utility men, as do not consider it safe to send a party of two men to do this work. Upon arriving near the Utah line, these parties could secure the services of a guide, who is famil- far with the country, and other neces- sary equipment.
 I would have the report show the of agriculture, grazing, timber or any other thing ot value that might be found.
 I also believe it advisable to under take to locate one or two bridge sites on the north side of the canyon that would conform to sites which might be located on tht south side of the canyon, with the idea of submitting 1 the possibility of a bridge over the Colorado river for some future legis- ] lation.
 I would rather have this in a spe- cial appropriation than included in the general appropriation for my de- partment, because we will be sure to get the work done.
 Hoping that this will meet with | your favorable consideration, am, very truly yours,
 WILLIAM A. MOUER,.
 SA.a