12 Bulletin 85 



main line of any railroad. The Arizona Eastern, which connects with 

 the main east and west line of the Southern Pacific system at Mari- 

 copa, and a branch of the Santa Fe System, known as the Santa Fe, 

 Prescott and Phoenix Railroad, which joins the main line of the Santa 

 Fe at Ash Fork, Arizona, connect the Valley with outside markets. 

 While the advantages of a main trunk line are obvious the transporta- 

 tion problem for this district is not an acute one because of this lack. 



The Arizona Eastern Railway being a subsidiary property of the 

 Southern Pacific Company, and the Santa Fe. Prescott and Phoenix 

 Railroad being a part of the Santa Fe System, the Salt River Valley 

 is furnished the same class of service as is furnished elsewhere through- 

 out the country by these two systems. In so far as concerns the trans- 

 portation of perishable commodities under refrigeration from distant 

 markets, the Pacific Fruit Express Company furnishes the necessary 

 cars for the Arizona Eastern, and the Santa Fe Refrigerator Despatch 

 Company furnishes the necessary cars for shippers on the Santa Fe, 

 Prescott and Phoenix Railroad. In its efficiency the service is the 

 same as that furnished elsewhere in sections served by these refrig- 

 erator car lines. An interurban electric line 10 miles long extends 

 from Phoenix to Glendale and traverses an important fruit and truck- 

 ing belt. Considerable quantities of fruits and vegetables are trans- 

 ferred from this line to the steam lines at Phoenix and Glendale. The 

 total railroad mileage within the irrigated district alone is about 100 

 miles. One principal line enters the Valley at Marinette in the north- 

 west corner of the main irrigated district and passing through Peoria 

 and Glendale terminates at Phoenix. The other carrier enters the 

 irrigated district at a point about 9 miles south of Tempe and also has 

 a terminus at Phoenix. Branches of the latter road also extend from 

 Phoenix westward to Hassayampa through the Buckeye Valley and 

 Eastward through Tempe and Mesa, to points beyond. At Mesa a 

 further subdivision occurs, one line extending south through Chandler 

 and passing out of the irrigated territory at the edge of the cotton dis- 

 trict, while the other branch extends in a southeasterly direction 

 through Gilbert and leaves the irrigated territory in the vicinity of 

 Higley. The most remote points in the Valley are about 12 miles frorn 

 transportation facilities, while the average distance from farm to 

 loading station is from 4 to 6 miles. There are within the farming 

 district about 10 billing stations and about 15 non-agency stations, or 

 a total of about 25 loading points for farm products. Refrigerator 

 cars are iced at Mesa, Phoenix and Glendale. Icing facilities have 



