Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-06-09
THE SCENIC
ROUTE ROAD
Work to Be Commenced This
Week From This
End.
SURVEY STARTS TOMORROW
Col. Coleman to Have Charge
Superintendent Bursum Will
Put Force on at Once.
Gaspar Avenue Bridge to
Be Torn Down.

Inc conference Oh yeSleTudy dLleF-
noon between Superintendent H. o.
Bursum, County Commissioner Arthur
Seligman .and Civil Engineers
David NJ. White and c. G. Coleman
concerning the construction of the
Scenic Route Road from this end, was
quite lengthy and in the main, was
satisfactory. After two hours CONSUL
tation it was agreed that work by PEN
itentiary convicts should commence at
once and Superintendent Bursum and
Colonel Coleman made an examination
from a point about three miles from
town, several miles up the canon road,
and the survey heretofore made by the
latter was inspected by Mr.. Bursum.
At the first bend above the reservoir
of the Santa Fe Water and Light
Company, about three miles from
town, where there are high rocky
bluffs on both sides of the river
substantial bridge 40 feet long and 3s
feet above water level, will be put IN
and this will be the starting point.
Colonel Coleman will start tomorrow
with necessary aid to survey ana cross
section the road up the canon for
about three miles, thence the survey
will take a southerly direction to the
ton of the divide. The road in the
canon will be located on the north
side of the river in order to aVoid
crossing the stream too often. Ihere
will be but two crossings, the bridge
at the point of beginning and the point
where the road will leave the canon Oh
the Santa Fe river. This will keep the
road on the south slope Of the range
and will prove of benefit in winter.
Grade stakes will be set by coiohel
Coleman's party and he will be VI
charge of the engineering portion OF
the construction of the road. Superln-
tendent Bursum is now arranging lor
a camping ground for the convlcts ana
will very likely place force OF thern
at actual work tomorrow. The nrst
three miles of the construction in the
canon of the Santa Fe river Will pc Oh
standard width and plenty VIDE enough
IN allow two wagons to pass. Ihe
New Mexican is gratified to record
that work will commence in earnest
and that Mr.. Bursum and the county
authorities are getting together OH .iiis
nroiact In this connection the new
Mexican has been furnished evidence
establishing clearly that County Coih-
missioner Arthur Seligman has done
al, that it was possible for any one
man to do to get action on commence
ment of work on the road, but that
circumstances were so very unfavora-
ble that it was very hard work to over
come them. In addition had not the
preliminary survey Of the f1rst tWeiVe
miles of the road been Instituted ana
finished under his direction and Or
ders by Colonel Coleman, the entire
concentration would have lapsed ana
the aid of convicts in the constructloi'
of the road would not have been Sc
cured. A beginning has now peeh
,,,ade and for the good Of all concern
ed. it is hoped that the penitentiary
and county authorities will act in uni
son and that Mr.. Bursum will put
sufficient number of convicts on the
work to finish the road to the top OIL
the first divide, a distance OF ABOUT
six miles, this summer.
Regarding the construction or the
bridge across the Santa Fe river on
Don Gaspar avenue with convict heip'
a. consultation was also held but no
definite arrangements have yet peen
arrived at and Superintendent Bursum
and Commissioner Seligman VIII nave
another consultation as there are
many points Of difference between
them concerning this matter, but Mr.
seligman proposes to take some decis-
i've action very soon and, If necessary
will order the tearing down of the pre-
sent unsafe structure at once, tnat
matters might be hurried up in the
construction of the new bridge. me
nresent bridge is reported as absoiuteS
" unsafe even for pedestrian anu
Mr.. seligman does not propose to nave
this dangerous bridge used by the pub
lie any longer than he can possibly
help.