Arizona republican., 1910-11-29
BOULEVARD QUESTION
 NORTH END HEARD FROM
Mir. WOOIsey of the Board of Trustees
 Speaks.

To the Editor of The Republican-Sir:
 There is some misapprehension as 10 some phases of the Central avenue controversy. and since the press has been resorted to by one side. ! ask the privilege of a word on the other side.
 Special road district No. l. cnmpris ing Central avenue, was established for the purpose of building a boulevard from Phoenix to the Arizona canal. To provide the means. bonds were issued as authorized by statute. While there was not q very clear understanding ar that time as to the exact kind of road to be built or its cost. there was an expressed desire of a large majority 0f the taxpayers that it be first class and extend the whole length of the avenue.
 There was considerable controversy as to the amount of bonds needed. IL was feared by many. especially resi- dents north of the Grand canal. that an amount sufficient tO complete the job would not be provided and they insist ed that $50, 900 was not too much; that S40,O0O was the very least that would make a good road. Thirty thousand dollars. however. was the amount de- cided upon by the southenders and as they had full control. that amount was voted
 The trustees entered upon the work before them with much deliberauon. With a view tn get the benefit or the best skill in road making. cores pnndence was opened with the bureau of good roads in Washington. which was established for the purpose of aid ing communities in this very important branch of internal improvements. Three engineers from that office. in cluding the chief engineer, man who is supposed to know all that is known in this country about road building, be- ing one of them. Their decision was that our best road here and by far the cheapest in the long run is macadam. Several weeks were consunen III searching for suitable rock for making durable macadam. The first found having proper qualities was near Wick enburg. but later a deposit was dis covered near the north end of Central avenue and also near Tempe.
 The style of road decided upon was sixteen feet of macadam center and the sides graveled and well oiled.
 Much time was consumed In the ef- fort tn let the construction by contract, but the lowest bid for the entire work was much above the amount of money available Finally q contract for furn- lshing the crushed rock was made with A. w. Gregg. who, had an outfit for rock crushing, and the wOrH com menced And here the trouble also be- gan.
 Mir. Gregg's machinery was suf- ficiently strong for the crushing of or dinary rock. such as he had been handling. but the rock selected for the road was not only extremely hard. but tough as well. having some iron in its con position. and his machinery WAS not heavy enough to work it. Mr. Gregg got a heavier outfit. This also failed. and finally a third was bought which did the work operly. But ne was unable to fulfill his contract al tl.e prIce. and after having exhausted his available means. threw up the con tract with a loss, as stated by him. ot over s6.000
 To purchase his last equipment, the trustees had advanced certain funds. taking as security therefor bil or sale of his plant As q last resort the board decided to proceed with construction by force account. using the Gregg plant. sf-
 After getting we'll started and reach ing q good output of rock, the work was again interrupted. MT. Gregg had filed in the land office a claim on the quarry from which the rock was ob- tained and before advising the trustees of his intention to abandon his con- tract. he transferred the claim to the party from whom he bought his laSt rock crusher The note given therefor was due and payment demanded with legal action as an alternative. In con sequence he sold his claim to pay the note.
 The purchaser agreed to rent the claim for .s5 day temporarily. but aft er a few days refused more rock on any terms except after payment for she crusher, and work was stopped. There was no relief in sight except to pay for the crrIsher or move the plant at a loss of a months time and sl,5oU to Sl 500 expense After some delay the rock claim was finally bought by an outside party and work proceeded.
 After getting well under way agait