Bisbee daily review., 1912-08-10
DORDERLANO
 ROUTE PLANNED
 GROSS THt DIVIDE
Highway Will Run to Fair bank Inst cad of Through Hereford as
 Scheduled

lhe ulNlde ana t0at ultiLidltIg the Borderland Route win run to Fair bank instead of through Hereford, as at present. appears to be practically certain. There are some in this dis triCt any many more in Douglas who would prefer 10 have the highway run over the present Borderland Route, but indications are that they Will find it impossible to obtain any such action as they will seek. This is the growing opinion of those in terested in good roads in this city. To complete the Cochise county sec ton ot the highway will take at least this year and next, but two years should see a fine east and west highway in full operation.
 Speaking of the state highway pro ject a well known Bisbeeite who has given the matter considerable thought stated that the matter Of laying out and locating the lines of the state highway was practically settled in advance Of action by the board. Two of the supervisors rep resent Tombstone and the north of the county. They are expected to insist that the highway shall be open 10 the people of the north. and they will control. It is likely that they will seek to have the route pass through Tombstone, but it is possible that an arrangement which will be suggested 10 them may satisfy as we'll or at least not prove objection able. If such an arrangement can be made, the work done in the com ing year will extend at least a dozen
 
 than if the route passes through the present county seat.
 Surveys for the state highway show two routes, each Of which includes the route through Bisbee and over the divide. Besides this. there is She present Hereford route, which is believed to be out of the question, since the power is with the board, but which would likely have been taken were matters as they stood during the Girand regime. One route follows the present Fairbanks road, and does not touch Tombstone, while the other turns of from that road to Tombstone and continues on out of Tombstone and down into Fair banks
 At Fairbanks a bridge is to be built and the road continued on to the county line. This is slightly up grade but is not a bad climb. At present two members of the board are believed to favor the route through Tombstone. and the counter proposition that will be advanced to them is that fine county road be ! built from Tombstone to the Fairbank road and that the present lateral be l improved and made as good as any state highway If this be done, the state fund could be used in building straight toward Fairbanks. and coun, l ty funds would connect up with the state work at once.
 i If the Tombstone course is pur sued. it would mean the building of about nine miles of road away from the Fairbank road, and about an equal amount from Tombstone to ] Fairbanks. For the latter route, the best argument is that from Tomb stone to Fairbank would be over ! high land. and over a country com ! posed of decomposed granite, but the Tombstone route would lengthen the ! highway and thus increase its cost and delay its completion in conse quence.
 The pursuing of the Fairbanks road and the building of county connec ! tion to Tombstone is the course that ' will be urged by representatives oi ! this district wheG the board of su, ] pervisors takes the matter up. Il ! will mean an earlier completion of a new and finer Borderland route ! Most Douglasits and some from this 1 district favor the present Hereford route on the ground that it is short. CT and Of easier grade. To this the ! Bisbee answer is that it does not put | Bisbee on the highway. which would i then run to Lowell and turn away. l Bisbeeites fuTther urge that the trip 1 across the divide is scenically worth l taking. The north of the county can properly urge that they are entitled to be enabled to connect up with the state highway.
 | Recognizing this, the inclination oi ! those showing the most interest here ! is to run the route over the divide and to seek a compromise with Tomb | stone on the county road connection i project.
 | An effort is being made 10 get La mar Cobb to attend the meeting Of l the board of supervisors on August ! 10, and to take the matter up al ] that time