Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1908-02-11
Preliminary Survey
Just Completed
Proves This
ENGINEERS MAKE REPORT
Corbett and >mythe Estimate
Cost of Construction at
$4,000.

Tn their report to Hon. Clifford Pm
chot chief of the Bureau of Forestry,
Corbett and Smythe, the local civil
engineers and surveyors, demonstrate
the entire feasibility of the completion
of the Scenic Highway over the Pc
cos national forest. Their estimate or
the cost is very reasonable, although
it demonstrates at the same time, that
the Territory has built with convict
help a great portion of the road at
comparatively small expense indeed.
Messrs. Corbett and Smythe had
been commissioned by the Forestry
Bureau to run feasible preliminary
survey for such portions OF the Scenic
Highway on the Pecos national forest
as had been completed and were d.
rected to begin their survey at the end
of the road on the Macho-Dalton d.
vide thus far constructed by the Ter
ritory and only a few miles from the
Pecos river. In making their survey,
according to their report, they kept
constantly in mind four things: seen
ic beauty, ease of grade, reasonable
cost and avoidance of localities where
the sun would have no chance to melt
snowbanks that might accumulate dur
ing the winter" AS a consequence,
not one mile of the road altogetner
as surveyed is located SO as to cause
any apprehension of a continued snow
blockade. In no instance does the
grade exceed the stipulated tlve per
cent. The estimated cost of building
the IS miles of road is $13O,572.72 and
Corbett and Smythe offer to take the
contract at that figure. In the estimate
is included 75-foot steel bridge with
fourteen feet roadway across the Pc
cos river and numerous bridges and
culverts built of native hewn timber.
The width of the roadbed shall be not
less than sixteen feet at any point
and at turnouts on switchbacks 1t shall
be not less than twenty feet.
Starts With Indian Creek Trail.
The point of the beginning OF the
new construction work is to be on :op
of the Dalton Mesa where the Indian
Creek Trail leaves the Scenic High
way. To the Pecos river, the new
road will follow more or less the di
rection of the Indian Creek Trail.
This point of beginning is chosen rath-
er than the end of the Scenic High.
way as far as constructed, because,
"the last mile and one-half of the
road as at present, is poorly located.
lying on the north slope of the moun-
tain and ending at point from which
it would be necessary to construct
switchbacks along the north side OF
the mountain in order to get down to
Macho Creek, or else to turn around
the southeast point Of the mountain to
get down to Dalton Creek, involving
long stretches of rock work and strik-
ing the Pecos river several miles
further down than will be the case in
the present survey" the river from
Dalton Creek up to the Corbett Sur
vey passing through DEVILS Gorge, a
steep, rocky box canon. The point
of the beginning on the Indian Creek
trail has an elevation of $500 feet.
This Side Of the Pecos.
The survey starts down the south
branch of Macho Creek, swings to the
northeast around the sunny slopes OF
the mountain, leaving the south Macho
to the right. After crossing several
small canons and gulches, the north
Macho is crossed and then the ridge
forming the Divide between the Ma.
cho and Indian Creek is skirted and
finally crossed, at the low point, one.
half mile east of the Jones mine, or at
the same place where the present In
dian Creek Trail crosses the Divide
This point is 1868 feet in altitude and
45O feet above the confluence OF In
dian Creek and the Pecos river. The
survey follows the sunny slope of the
mountain along the north side OF In
dian Creek until the Pecos river comes
in sight, about 200 feet below. Here
an abrupt turn is made to the north
and the east slope of the bluffs along
the Pecos river is followed for mile
or more, gradually descending to the
main road, half mile above the Clu'
House or Field and Childers' summer
cottages.
Crossing the Pecos.
The present public road along tht
Pecos river is then followed for sew
eral miles and at point 1900 fee
above sea level, the river is to b(
crossed on steel bridge, the rcee
from there taking the east bank OF the
Pecos to Davis Creek, just below thu
Sparks ranch, and opposite the Gil
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