The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-03-22

Mr.. E. w. KelsO, Well-Known Garrett
Countian, In the Southwest, Visits
Phoenix, Arizona, and There Meets
| Harry McCOmas, Former Oakland
Resident, Who Is There for the Ben
eft of His Health.
To the Editor of The Republican.
1t may be of interest to some of the
readers of The Republican to read a
brief account of what l observed on
my trip from Tucson to Phonix, 125
miles distant
The valley on the route which l
took is several miles wide with noun
tains on either side and with no in
dication of running water.
Travelling many miles through land
covered with both mesquite bush and
broad-leaved cactus on each side o.
the railroad, did not appeal to an I'M
accustomed observer. But further on
a nucleus of dairy section with
many cows grazing on green alfalfa
irrigated by wells with electric power
and with neat bungalows for the resi-
dents and large 1ocks of White Leg
horn hens indicated contentment and
prosperity.
But soon the train sped from this
oasis and miles of desert land are
seen, but like the darkest hour be-
fore the day, the train enters large
cattle ranch with many acres in alfal-
ia, all irrigated as in the dairy sec
ton above described.
On this route l saw what is called
giant cactus forests and some had the
appearance of being fifteen feet high.
This forest covered many acres.
When within about two miles of
Phoneix l saw evidence of the great
benefit of the irrigation system from
Roosevelt dam; of many acres in al
falfa with many cows grazing and
other cattle contented. l noted large
flocks of poultry also and many acres
in variety of vegetables, an indica-
ton of prosperity.
The train arrived on time in the
city of Phoenix. 1t is the capital of
Arizona and is thrifty city of about
$4,000 people at an altitude of 100
feet. l am told there are thousands
of tourists in the city having been
lured here on account of the delight
full winter climate. No snow, slush or
mud to contend with. l am told that
% above zero is the maximum of cold
In conversation with an elderly
man from Indiana he stated that he
had spent two winters in Los Angeles
and eight winters in Phoenix and eX-
perienced only one day of disagreed
BILE weather when partially foggy
period was on. In his experience he
said the climate of Phoenix was I'M
equalled.
There are many hotels and rooming
houses and splendid restaurants and
cafeterias, and they furnish plenty to
eat at reasonable price. Roosevelt
Hotel is partly finished and will cost
when completed $1,600,O00 and will
rise to fifteen stories. Other hotels
are adding three stories and many
apartment houses are being erected.
Biltmore Hotel is to be built several
miles from Phoenix and will cost in
the neighborhood of 100000.
The residents of Phoenix say this is
not temporary boom but claim it to
be legitimate growth. The city has
four banks and some other financial
and trust agencies.
Two daily newspapers are published
in Phoenix and the city has an electric
car system with five cent fare. The
streets and avenues are wide and hum
dreds of mercantile establishments of
great variety line the streets with
immense supplies of goods for all
needs.
l am told there are forty churches
in Phoenix and / have seen many of
them. They are all of large size. The
new Presbyterian church, dedicated
February %, cost $450,000. There
are many large school buildings also.
The high school chapel has seating
capacity of 1000. Christian influence
and education stand out as two great
benefactors as a means of civilization
and good citizenship.
There are many palms in the city
and the appropriate name is the City
of Palms. am writing this letter
seated beneath a large palm on the
capitol grounds. This park covers two
city blocks and contains the most
beautiful variety of semi-tropical
trees have ever seen. A man said to
me that he had visited many capitol
parks and claimed this the most beau
tiful of any other. The cactus garden
here is very interesting when one
notes the great variety of this plant.
| The giant cactus here is twenty feet
Il