The Arizona sentinel., 1897-02-20
The Norton and Ehrenberg Wagon
 Road.
FREE GOLD CANT, Feb. IS, 1897.

A petition will soon be presented the Hon. Board of Supervisors of Yuma County, asking them to ap- propriate S4OO to put the County wagon road from Norton's Landing to Ehrenberg into good travelling con dition. The purpose of this letter is to emphasize the necessity for such improvement, which is not one of local nature only but appeals to the business men of Yuma, as well.
 The road now Is in villainous condition, heavily brushed over, with high and sharp banks at wash cross ings, and gullies cut deep by the late rains, it is now simply impossible to any but light rigs, with these reqnir- ing cautious driving to escape a break down.
 All of the country from about Eh- renberg, Tyson's Wells and vicinity i5, or should be tributary to Yuma. It is not, and simply because they can not team over this road as it now is. There are two double teams, and one single team regularly freighting from Congress, on the Santa Fe Railroad, where supplies for merchants and mining camps are purchased in small lots, distance of 120 miles over good roads. Few even among the mer- chants have the capital to lay in stock in quantity to justify the run ming of the steamers, specially, hence there is a constant demand for small lots by wagon.
 Again it does not appear to be known that the Lower Colorado river passes through an extensive 'm1neral belt of the precious metals, on both sides of the river.
 This is being more fully realized by outside people than by our easy going home folks. Ia a quiet way there has been much exploiting of the gold belt, between Norton's and Ehrenborg on the river, with results so satisfactory, the operators for the purpose of securing more ground, are adverse to giving information as to their finds. It is enough to say Phoenix and California people are not talking-but putting in muscle and burning powder in a practical way to develop their claims and have tangible encouragement to go on in strong gold quartz veins, with gold visible to the naked eye, in places, ill 50 and 75 feet shafts. Tn some way these "strikes" leaked out and pros pectors are coming in, to that extent mail contractor, Daniels, has put on Q weekly stage (Thursday's) from Nor tons to Ehrenberg to meet the de mand for passengers and supplies, likewise the many "cruisers" now spying out future farming lands.
 This is a virgin field and 1t be- hoOveS the business men of Yuma to assist their would be customers in securing this moderate amount of money to place us in closer touch with Yuma by way of Picacho. Since the Territorial wagon road was built in '81 not one dollar has been applied hereabouts, except the stretch from Clip Landing to Clip mine, in the in terest of the Clip Mining and Milling Company. A very large constituency now crave this assistance. In fHrth- erance of the economical use of this money, the writer would respectfully suggest, that the present mall con- tractor, Jesus Daniels, of necessity having a better knowledge of where and how the work should be done, be appointed roadoverseer to super wise the work, without pay, thus put ting the wages of a road foreman onto the road proper, and that the work men be taken from those living along the line of road, who have an object in doing good and rapid work.
 TAYLOR D. MACLEOD.