Arizona republican., 1909-11-11

through the upper valley. thence .to Globe. Roosevelt. Phoenix and west After considerable negotiation, Mir. Potter has induced the forestry ser vice to exoend sI1O.000 on a highway through the Apache forest reserve em- bracing the country east of Clifton and extending far into New Mexico to a point where the highway will connect with a scenic highway on which the territory of New Mexico has already spent a good deal of money
 The forestry service was induced to enter into this arrangement on the con dition that Graham county should con struct 2 most difficult stretch of 2300 feet through Clifton. After confer ence with the supervisors MT. Potter guaranteed to the government that this road would be built and the supervis- ors advertised for bids for construction. In reply only one bid was received and that was rejected. A readvertisement produced other bids but they were re- jected as being too high. \ third ad vertisement brought out d bid of $1700 which is regarded as reasonatie but the supervisors have so far declined to take any action. The ground taken by the supervisors is that while tue board at one time agreed to construct the road that agreement was made before the incorporation of Clifton. They now contend that since the territory lies within an incorporated they can spend no money on it. MT. Potter has obtained sound legal advice to the effect that when the supervisors enter ed into contract with him the terri tory was not within the corporate linn it's and since all acts up to the present time were performed before the incor- poration, the board is bound by the contract and can be made by manda- mus to perform it.
 It is curious fact that remon- strance against the building of the road by the county has been signed by certain residents of Clifton whose ob- jection is that the proposed highway will not include the particular street on which they live or do business. But the time for remonstrances has long since passed.
 In connection with his general high way project MT. Potter induced the board of control to include Graham county in the levy of twenty y-five cents for territorial highway purposes. The supervisors of Graham county disre- garded this levy and refused to make it but it is thought that they will take saner view of it and carry out the order of the board of control The members of the latter board are stand ing firmly with Mir. Potter and an nOunce that it is q matter of indiffer- ence with them whether the super visors make the levy or not That money must be produced; if not by taxation. it will be drawn from the bondsmen of the supervisors who are bound for the faithful and complete performance of their official duties. Two members of the board are in the city now and will have a conference with the board of control on Saturday when it is thought an amicable ar engagement wll be reached.
 In the opinion of Mr. -Retter.-any ob- iection by the citizent of Graham coun- ty or any other county along the pro- posed highway is amazing, considering the advantage it will be to all con tiguous or nearly contiguous territory. The advantage of good roads is better understood by those who haveshad the use of them. Not long ago Mfr. Potter was In Los Angeles and he was told