Arizona republican., 1904-03-08
THE TONTO ROAD
Advantages of Its Early Construction
 Pointed Out.

Some OppOSitiOn has been expressed, though not very considerable to the voting of bonds for the Tonto road. l. was learned yesterday that there Is matter a perfect understanding of the matter; that many people are not aware how soon the road would be built after the funds became available and of the saving that would result to the valley by it's construction. One gentleman who had opposed the bonds said yesterday that there was no hurry about the building of it so why vote the bonds. MT. A. P. Davis replied that there was the greatest hurry if the road were to De built at all. He said that if the bonds were voted the road would be finished within four months: that within three months it would ba passable and that machinery for the work at the dam would be taken over it, and that within a month afterward it would be widened and made into an excellent road He said that from 300 to 800 men could be set at work on t and enough men would be at work to finish it as soon as pos sib!e. He said that saving to the val ley would begin at once, if the bonds Were voted.
 Consulting Engineer Savage speak ing of the opposition to the road said that II it should prevail to the extent of defeating the bonds it would be d damaging thing for the valley in it's re- lations with the government. In ask ing for the passage of the bill MT Fowler had understood that the people represented by him were willing to share the burden with the government. The government had, therefore, gone forward and had expended great deal of money. If now the people should refuse to assume their share of the burden. MT. Savage said that it would become his duty to warn the depart ment 10 proceed slowly in it's future business with the valley and assume no risks as it had been doing through out the negotiations thus far.
 On the subject of the road the fol- lowing is a letter from Chief Engineer Newell to MT Fowler read yesterday at the reception:
 Department of the interior. United
 States Geological Survey, RecIama-
 tion Service:
 Washington, D. C., Dec. IS, 1905 MT. R. A. Fowler
 President, Salt River Valley Water Users Association,
 Dear Sir: In reply to your inquiry regarding the attitude of the Reclama- tion Service toward the proposed road from the Salt River Valley to the Salt River dam site. crossing the in- tervening mountains, I desire to make the following statement:
 In the construction of the large storage dam it will be necessary to bring in large quantities of material. machinery, and supplies, and to have better facilities for transportation of labOrers to and from the work. Under the present conditions all material and men must go to a point on the South ern Pacific Road in the southeastern part of the territory, transfer to a short Independent railroad. 125 miles. to go to the town Of Globe and then travel ss road of 40 miles or more in length tO the site of the dam From the railroad point at Globe to the dam site IS nearly as far as from the Salt HiEpr Valley.
 t is essential in order to secure sun plies and labor at reasonable cost 10 have quick communication with the center of population and of business :n the Salt River Valley, and avoid the long rOundabO railroad route and wagon transportation.
 I. is also necessary In transmitting the power from the dam to build an electric transmission line over the mountains in the most direct course to the Salt River valley This transmits sion line ts for the purpose of convey a'R the power generated at the dam t6 the pumping works in the valley. raising water for the irrigation of ths arid lands from the underground CuTTcMSs.
 U Is for the advantage of the people of Salt River valley to have this wagon road built as speedily as possible. as it WiI reduce the ultimate cost of the works. which they must pay for and will facilitate every step of the pro- csedsnEE. It lE essential that they take the initiative In this matter and build the freight and wagon road themselves m order te take advantage of the work which may ultimately be done on the electric transmission line. That is to say if this wagon road is built in good location and properly constructed the electric transmission | line will be built along it and the cost of constructing this line will be cor respondingly reduced. Trade and com merce between. the cities of the valley | and the construction and mining camps | ln the mountains will be vastly in ] creased
 l understand from visits to the valley | and conversation with our engineers | and public-spirited men, that your people are willing to take this matter | up and push it forward. I hope in the ! interest of economy and early con ! sructlon of the reclamation works | that you will do all in your power to | push this matter energeticalIy and l prlhs about the construction of the | road at the earliest possible date ! There is no one thing which is more | essential toward progress and which