El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-01-27
Highways Crossing From East To West and tn
Of Substantial Character and Under Way
Parts OF the Permanent System OF Roads Have Been Com
peted Under Direction OF Territorial Engineer Grand
Splendid Reinforced Concrete and Steel Bridges
Are Being Put In Over the Streams.
Some OF Grading Very Difficult.

Permanency is the main object. The
! New Mexico roads are treated else
where. This article will treat Of the
Arizona roads and their manner OF con-
strucUon. AT present about a hundred
miles of the territorial highway system
have been completed in Arizona, this
with the first years efforts.
The good roads work in Arizona was
undertaken for the purpose Of connect
ing the isolated communities with the
commercial world and also because
ArlzonanS had come TO realize that they
live in the midst Of the world most
marvellous scenic wonders and that as
soon as those wonders are made access
Sible, thousands of tourists viii flock
from all points on the earth's surface
TO see them, spending in Arizona mil
lions OF dollars annually. Another and
probably the most potent reason OF all
was that the people of the territory
wanted 10 ride over good roads them
selves whether they rode in automo-
biless carriages or wagons and thus be-
come more familiar with the various
wonders and delights OF their own COM
mOnwealth.
It is estimated that in the United
States alone, S250,OBO are wasted an
nually on bad roads, while the losses in
cldent to bad roads run up into the
billions. The average American farm IS
SIX miles from a railroad and 100000,
600 are. spent each year to transport
raw materials to points where they can
be shipped by rail TO market or fac
tory In Arizona the average farm is
much more than six miles from a rail-
road and the transportation tax upon
her producers is heavier than in many
states. Had Arizona not been so eX-
could not have afforded to have bad
roads as long as she did.
Road Materials
he o-e A
almost any point in Arizona road
making material as good as any that
could be imported from other states fs
found Rains and winds Of countless
ages have disinte grated her granite inIO
q hard. smooth surface at triling ex-
pense. Caliche, a peculiar whitish
cement. unriVaiied as a natural road
material, is found in many places The
plenitude Of material IS only one Of
the reasons why ArizOna's good road
system is costing 50 much less per
mile, yet is so much better than the
highways Of other states
The Coed ROads Law
In 1903 the Arizona legislature passed
a good roads law. The office Of terri
tOrial engineer was created. the en-
gineer to have general supervision over
the construction Of a comprehensive
highway system An annual tax of
cents on each 500 valuation OF property
IN counties where road work is not
next year and Of % cents on each
500 in counties where road building
is in progress or planned by the board
Of control for the ensuing twelve
months, was authorized Under this
law James B. Grand was appointed
engineer and road taxes. tOtaling
SS27. 600 have been collected. An ad-
ditional tax OF 100000 to carry on
the work 50 well begun has been
levied.
That the $4,000 has been well
spent, cannot be denied though the
merest beginning has been made But
in many sections Of Arizona where
there was nothing but COW trails a
few years ago are good highways. joy
of the motOrist pride Of the horse
man and comfort of the pedestrian.
Thousand Miles Planned
over 1000 miles Of road has been
surveyed and mapped in Cochise. ella,
Graham, Marieopa, Pima, Pinals Yava-
pal and Yuma counties Over 100
miles Of highway has been actually
completed and viii entail no further
expense except for maintenance which
costs little. In addition to this. the
territory has repaired and put in con-
dition many miles Of county roads
which IT is planned to ultimately in
in the state system.
At the present time there are five
bodies Of territorial road builders in
the field. each under the direction OF
an experienced foreman.
The road that is completed is in /