Arizona republican., 1919-11-26
WEDNESDAY MORNING. NOVEMBER as, 1919
The state of that mans mind who
feels too intense an interest as to tu-
ture events must be most deplorable.
SENECA.
The Event at Ell Centre

The driving of golden spike FL Centre next
Monday celebrating the finishing of the last link
connecting San Diego directly with the east will be
a most important event. not only for San Diego but
for Arizona as well. IT recalls the driving OF the
golden spike at Promontory Point more than half
century ago when the Central Pacific met the
Union Pacific.
Tho uniting of the San Diego & Arizona with the
line Of the Southern Pacific will be the elimination
of the long effort of John D. Spreckes, the realiza
ton Of his dream OF many years for the emancipa-
ton of San Diego
With it's magnificent harbor, next to that of San
Francisco the greatest natural rosdstead on the
Pacific coastliue in the United States San Diego
was isolated by circumstances. 1t has had until
now no direct outlet.
For thirty or more years the people Of San
Diego have been trying to open an eastern outlet.
Nearly that long ago delegation of San Diego et-
zens headed by the mayor came to Phoenix TO en-
list interest in the project But looking back at 1t
now, we can see how impractical it then was. Both
san Diego and Phoenix small and weak. Be
tween the Colorado and the Pacific lay vast region
almost as unpromising and forbiddng as Death
Valley We can see that there was no other
reason then for such a connection except the one
that both cities wanted it.
But times have changed. Both Arizona and San
Diego have increased in wealth and power, and,
more than that that gloomy menacing desert
gon which then obstacle to railroad building
has become of the richest agricultural in
Amerca-wih the exception of the Salt River Valley.
the very richest magnet for railroads.&c. great
Imperial Valley
Until the Imperial Valley, like San Diego has
been somewhat isolated with only indirect outlet.
1t will be connected with San Diego and its
magnificent harbor by the shortest possible line with
the easiest gradients, connection that will be of
incaIculable advantage to both the valley and the
city. Each will receive strong and steady stimulus
from the other.
Altogether there has been spike driving since
that at Promontory Point and that later. Yuma in
1891 when the Southern Pacific completed, that
has meant much to such a large section of the
west that will at Ell Centre Monday.
While we Of Phoenix by the linking of the two
roads will be brought direct connection with
either San Diego the Imperial Valley, a part of
the present indrectness will be removed; we will be
brought nearer to both to miles and time. And
there will be time when shall have a mainline
that will join us directly to both
The governor the Phoenix Chamber OF
Commerce and the civic bodies of Phoenix and
OF many Arizona towns have appropriately
taken formal notice of the celebration at FL
Centre and the latter and longer one at San
Diego, events that closely concern this state and
committees have been appointed to participate And
so closely does it US that we hope that
Arizonians in large numbers, their own initiative
win be at Ell Centre and San Diego to join in the
handshaking between Arizona and San Diego and TO
witness the bringing more closely together the two
richest valleys in the United States