Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-08-08

President +. II. Pierce Of the peni.
tentiary board, who has had charge
Of the construction Of the Scenic
Highway at this end Of the line. was
interviewed by an Optic representa-
tive this morning concerning the ac-
tion OF the county commissioners yes.
terday In issuing an order fixing the
location Of the highway on the west
side boulevard. from the Hot Springs
to Las Vegas.
Said Mr.. Pierce: II take the posi-
tion that the board Of county commits
sioners has absolutely no jurisdiction
in this matter. The official engineer.
Stephen Powers. has surveyed and To-
Gated the Scenic Highway from the
Hot Springs to connection with the
county road near Los Vigiles and will
proceed with the construction OF the
road according to that route. This will
avoid the construction OF an expen-
sive bridge across the Gallinas river
at the Hot Springs. There is no suit.
able site for bridge at that point
and II II were built, at great expense,
1t would In all likelihood be washed
out by the first big flood. The county
has never been successful In maintain
ing bridge at that point up to the
present time.
"As It Is now. there Ia constant com.
plant about fording the river where
the present county road crosses at
the Hot Springs. and II the bridge
were constructed there. steep grade
would remain at either end where the
road dips down to the river. Every
body who has ever driven over that
road with.the steep approaches on both
sides Of the river will be thankful to
see the road taken out of there. The
matter of bridge at this point was
taEen up by the Santa Fe some years
ago and It was abandoned on account
OF the expense. A proper bridge At
tnat point could not be constructed for
less than $4,000 to $4,000. And. as
! just said. after 1t were built there
would remain the steep grade at each
end. which would do away with the
advantage we have maintained SO far
by not allowing over a per cent
grade.
Moreover, the Scenic Highway
which followed the line OF the boule-
ward beyond the insane asylum would
accommodate very few people along
Its route whereas by coming through
Los Vigiles and Upper Las Vegas, and,
after crossing the river near Upper
Las Vegas striking across to the
boulevard at the insane asylum. It
would accommodate very large mum.
Der OF people. Crossing the river by
this route we could have, for the pres
ent. wide easy ford with no grade to
mention on either side and whenever
advisable long. low pile bridge such
as the Santa Fe uses there. could be
easily and cheaply constructed
This matter was brougll. IN be.
fore the county commissioners With
out any public not;.,a whatever and I
happentd to lean abou. II and went
before the commissioners and stated
my position. II 1t had been proper
matter for the commissioners to de-
termine. the method taken was entire.
ly unfair and improper. The public.
who pay for this road. certainly
should have been given a full and fair
hearing before the board instead OF 4
few men telling the commissioners
what they should do.
For my part. ! am building this
road for the territory and not for the
county and am In no way whatever
bound by the action Of the county
commissioners will continue as I
have done In the past to build the
road along the best obtainable route
from all considerations and without
any reference to the commissioners
Of this county"