Ralph H. Cameron
Popular among residents of northern Arizona for much of his political career, his fortunes changed after he reached the U.S. Senate and voters began to view his actions as self-serving.[4] After reading John Wesley Powell's account of his 1869 exploration of the Colorado River, Cameron wanted to learn more about the American Southwest.Cameron received a five-year extension to the original ten year right to collect tolls, extending his franchise on the trail til 1906.[10] Interior Secretary Ethan A. Hitchcock sent a telegram protesting the bill, prompting Governor Joseph H. Kibbey to veto the legislation.[20] When Cameron's franchise expired, the Santa Fe railroad offered to pay 70% of all collected tolls to the county in exchange for the contract to operate the Bright Angel trail.[11] The Santa Fe railroad appealed the decision on Cameron's mining claims to United States General Land Office Commissioner Richard A. Ballinger.Garfield issued a decision in February 1909 which found the disputed claims did not "possess such mineral character and values as to justify the land department in awarding the desired patent".[22] Smith had accumulated a number of political enemies during his many years in office and spent time campaigning for William Jennings Bryan instead of working for his own re-election.Most residents of northern Arizona Territory believed that mining was vital to the economic development of the area and opposed any efforts to give the canyon park status.[29] The Agriculture and Interior departments opposed the territorial delegate's plan but granted a permit to a Santa Fe railroad subsidiary authorizing construction of a road to the Grand Canyon the next year.Warner, Tucker & Company of Boston purchased options for Cameron's mining claims when it looked into building a hydroelectric dam in the canyon.[34] Other investors with plans for other dams, funiculars, mining projects, and a pipeline to pump water from Indian Gardens to the South Rim followed but nothing ever came of these proposals as Cameron was unable to establish clear title on his claims.[39] The same day as the veto, a bill was introduced in Congress to admit Arizona provided the proposed constitution had the provision allowing recall of judges removed.[50] Part of the Forest Services problems was Cameron and other northern Arizona residents were able to block development plans for the canyon through their mining claims.[51] Toward this end, Chief Forester Henry S. Graves began lobbying the U.S. Congress to create a national park at the Grand Canyon in 1914.This displaced a number of small independent vendors and granted virtual monopolies to the Fred Harvey Company and Santa Fe railroad.[54] Despite the growing number of obstacles to his claims, Cameron remained optimistic of his chances to control important sections of the Grand Canyon.[42] With Republican opportunities looking favorable for the coming election, Cameron decided to challenge Mark Smith for a seat in the United States Senate.[59][60] Cameron's primary campaign promise was to win a $12 million appropriation to build a dam on the Gila River near San Carlos, Arizona.A second promise to the American Legion was to reallocate 100,000 to 150,000 acres (40,000 to 61,000 ha) of the Colorado River Indian Reservation and give the land to war veterans for settlement.[61] He also told the voters how a pair of hydroelectric dams in the Grand Canyon could "electrify every railroad, mine, mill, city, town and hamlet in Arizona.[70] Cameron began efforts to have Stephen Mather removed as director of the National Park Service shortly after taking office.[57] After Cameron's brother-in-law, L. L. Ferrall, was named postmaster for the Grand Canyon, park rangers began to complain that their mail was being opened before they received it.[71] Arizona's other congressional representatives, Carl Hayden and Henry F. Ashurst, fought to restore the funding but Cameron was able to block the efforts for several months.[75] In March 1923, Hayden and Congressman Louis C. Cramton of Michigan met with representatives of the county, Park Service, and Fred Harvey company to discuss purchasing the trail.[71] By this time, the Coconino Sun, which had traditionally been a Cameron supporter, accused the senator of using the county as a pawn in his efforts to retain control of the trail and urged voters to approve the sale.In August 1924, a lawsuit attempting to force Cameron to remove employees and building along the Bright Angel Trail resulted a contempt charge being brought against the senator.[78] The Commissioner of the General Land Office, William Spry, overruled Farrell in January 1926 and invalidated Cameron's other mining claims.[82] In contrast, his challenger, Congressman Carl Hayden, in turn had a united party, the backing of labor, and the support of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.[87] His final project was development of a medical hot springs center near Yuma intended to treat arthritis and polio cases.
United States SenatorArizonaMarcus A. SmithCarl HaydenU.S. House of RepresentativesArizona TerritoryU.S. RepresentativeSouthportWashington, D.C.RepublicanDelegate to CongressCoolidge DamGrand Canyonrent-seekingSouthport, MaineGrand Banks of NewfoundlandSchool of Hard KnocksJohn Wesley PowellColorado RiverAmerican SouthwestFlagstaff, Arizona TerritoryEdward E. AyerLast Chance MineBright Angel Trailtoll roadGrand Canyon RailwayEl Tovar HotelCoconino CountyYavapai CountyPrescottjury dutyJohn N. Irwinsheriff1896 Republican National ConventionFlagstaffpatentsSanta Fe Railroadright of wayRichard E. SloanBoard of supervisors24th Arizona Territorial LegislatureEthan A. HitchcockJoseph H. KibbeyUnited States General Land OfficeRichard A. BallingerWashingtonInterior SecretaryJames R. GarfieldDemocraticdelegateMark SmithWilliam Jennings BryanTerritoriesPost Office and Post RoadsMines and MiningIndian Affairsenabling actpresidential proclamationnational parkAgricultureInteriorAgriculture SecretaryJames WilsonForest ServiceArizona Territorial Supreme CourtGrand Canyon National Forestoptionshydroelectric damfunicularsProgressive ErarecallreferenduminitiativeUnited States SenateGeorge W. P. Huntright of waysHermitHenry S. GravesFred Harvey CompanyUnited States Supreme CourtWoodrow WilsonWarren G. HardingprimaryGila RiverSan Carlos, ArizonaAmerican LegionColorado River Indian Reservationgeneral electionUnited States Senate Committee on Indian AffairsMilitary AffairsIrrigation and Reclamationthe District of Columbiaalienation of affectionsstatute of limitationsindictmentperjurypreliminary hearingcampaign financeFordney–McCumber TariffcottonBonus BillCoolidgeStephen MatherNational Park ServiceSurveyor General of ArizonaU.S. District Court for the District of ArizonaGrand Canyon National ParkInterior DepartmentHenry F. AshurstLouis C. CramtonMichigancontemptWilliam Sprytariffcoppergrazing feesWoman's Christian Temperance UnionLos Angeles TimessaltedPhiladelphiaLos AngelesCaliforniaGeorgiaNorth Carolinaarthritisheart attack