Arizona republican., 1909-04-15
RELATION OF BRIDGE
 TO TERRITORIAL HIGHWAY
James C. Goodwin Also Discusses the A. Scenic Features.

To the Edlt0r or Ine ttepuphcdh.
 Sir: I am going to give some req sons why the bridge should not be built at the so-called foot of Center street and will also give some reasons why the bridge should be built at Tempe.
 In the first place, while it may seem that the building of this bridge across Salt river is a local affair and con- cerns only the people of Salt River valley, it is in reality more far-reach- ing. and. when built, will form one of the connecting links between Phoenix and the outside cities of the territory.
 The last legislature passed an act creating territorial engineer. This act also provided for levy of five cents on a hundred dollars for the first year and ten cents for the second; that is to say, an appropriation Of $4O,0O0 for the first year and $s0.000 for the second This engineer has been appointed and is resident of Prescott. His duty is to furnish plans and cost of roads to be designated as territorial highways.
 In talking with members of the leg islature and other influential Arizon- ians. it seems to be the opinion that the first territorial road to be con- structed will be from Prescott by way of Castle Hot Springs. Phoenix. Flor ence and Tucson. The legislature also passed an act abolehing the office of road overseer and establishing that of superintendent of roads. The superin- tendent of roads will have charge of all county roads and will recommend where the county roads money can be expended to the best advantage of the county. Now the superintendent of county roads can work in conjunction with the territorial commissioner of roads and when the territorial com missioner of roads advises that certain roads should be designated as terri torial roads, the superintendent of county roads of each county, with the consent of the supervisors. can use county money to put these roads in a fair condition before they are accepted by the territory, which I have no doubt will be done in many instances. for what the people of this country want at the present time is a system of roads by which they can travel from
 
 This is right and as it should be. so. as I stated in the beginning. all bridges. whether constructed by the territory or county, across non -navig- able streams, will in time become part of this system. I was talking with Judge C. F Ainsworth while this bill was being drawn. I objected to his plans at that time. He was desig- mating a system of territorial roads from point to point, one point being from Tempe to Phoenix. I objected to it being designated in that manner. for if Ten1pe was not designated as the crossing and a bridge were built at the so-called foot of Center street, the territorial road, running east. would miss the town of Tempe mile and half and run on the south side of Mesa City, practically missing Mesa City-that is to say, that part of the road running from Phoenix to Flor ence and Tucson. He replied. What is the difference?" I said, Tt makes quite a difference with the people of Tempe and Mesa, as it had been agreed by many members of the legislature and other people who have spoken on this proposition that if highways were built through the territory. hundreds of tourists would pass over them. and Mesa and Tempe are as anxious for these tourists to pass through their town and see what little they have as are the people of Phoenix, so they want territorial highways to pass through their towns" He replied. Well, we automobile fellows don't care anything about going through your towns. Your towns have speed limits. and when we start out to go from one point to another we want to go right straight through rather than be held up on account of the speed limits"
 Neither Tempe nor Mesa is quite as large as Phoenix. We appreciate that. but we have our local pride as well as Phoenix has. The people of Doth towns are proud of Phoenix, as Phoe- nix is not only the county seat. but is the capital of the territory. The people of Tempe and Mesa always take their visitors to Phoenix. We have no feeling against Phoenix what ever. We show them the capitol build ing, we show them many things of interest to be found in Phoenix and we think it nothing but fair that the people travelling through the country should at least travel through our towns. if they do not desire to stop. The people of Mesa and Tempe will pay their share of this territorial road tax from year to year, which will go to maintaining a system of highways throughout the territory. and there is no way that we have been able to figure out how a territorial highway, crossing the bridge at the foot of Gen. ter street, can pass through Tempe