El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-06-14

eral serious obstacles to being made
part of the highway.
The old road, " way Of the South
ern Pacific and Mammoth Wash and
into Imperial valley at this time is
the best route, Notwithstanding the
sand difficulties. There are two new
roads Delng considered. The one that
seems to be the favOrite, by reason
Of its shOrtness, is the proposed road
from Yuma almost directly west 10
HolrTille- This road, however, passes
1or distance of about five miles
through the Walking Hills Through
this section the building of a perma-
nenr road viii be very difficult the
expense being estimated now AT from
four thousand TO seven thousand doll
lars a mile for about five miles.
Another Route.
Another route that is being con-
sldered TO some extent is to follow the
present route northwest for a distance
and continue on to Hedges over the
Nine road, then follows the foot hills
OF the Chocolate mountains, north
westerly, until Imperial Junction is
passed Then swing left and down
into Imperial Junction. This proposed
route has but few washes and is pr2c-
ucally clear OF sand but has the dis
advantage Of being considered longer
than any other route Another obfec.
ton, locally, IS the fact that to a
consloeraoIe measure, it is building
road for the benefit of Los Angeles,
which city. does not seem to be partic-
ularly popular in this part Of the state.
or at Yuma or Imperial, since the
Old Trails fiasco.
Building New Road.
Leaving FL Centre, the road now
has been built to DiNieland- Is miles
west, and the same is being continued
under the direction Of Imperial county.
westward to the west end Of Devil
canyon The line of the new road
does not follow that Of the old road in
many places. Wherever needed. this
phaIturn, and It appears that by fall
at least. there viii be a good highway
from FL Centre to San Diego.
We have all heard and read of the
difficulties, heretofore, of driving a
ear through the DiabIo mountains
to have a hard trip through
that section, but instead I received one
or the greatest road surprises that I
nave encountered in a long time
viii say. briefly. that the road from
the entrance to the Devil mountain
pass on through and over those noun
-alns, and in fact the other mountains
that are continually met with until in
he near vicinity Of san Diego. is one
81 the very best mountain roads in
the west, and the grades do not exceed .
percent The surface is good and !
smooth, and while the road has many
turns, 1t is as straight as it is possible
70 make IL IN the location where it is
built The road is carried high. and
n that way the engineerds were able
TO eliminate the practically impossible
grades of the old road.
Wonderful Mountain Scenery.
1t may surprise you when I state I
hat this mountain road is a better i
Dad than the Roosevelt Dam road {
70 give you further idea Of the gen z
raj character of the road, I viii state
hat the automobile stage which runs {
rom Fl Centre to Yuma. each way
.aily, has a schedule of nine hours \
including all stops, and that careful
inquiry satisfies me that from 80 to 40 {
automobiles pass over that road daily.
The scenery is unique and resembles
ne Water-WOrn rock formation to be
cen near san Augustine pass of the