Semi-weekly herald., 1913-08-28
STATE HIGHWAY WORK
PROGRESSING NICELY

Yesterday Chairman A. E. Reece of
the board of county commissioners.
Roy Goodman, county surveyor and
general supervisor of all the work, G.
Gordon Goodman of the First Ma
tional bank and press representatives
autoed over to the eastern limits of
the La Plata county line on the main
highway to Pagosa Springs to view
the progress made and the condition
of the work being done in the con-
struction of the highway by La Plata
county from the Archuleta county line
on westward, through Bayfield, to Du-
range, thence on west or north as the
tourist may choose. The highway
work being done in this county this
year, is its construction from the Ar
chuleta county line to Bayfield,. From
the Montezuma county line, eastward
to Hesperus, and the building of an
entirely new road from Carbon juno
ton into Durango.
The work inspected yesterday was
that which has been completed from
Bayfield, to point leading to Beaver
creek, where it ends and abandoning
some two miles of 12 to II per cent
grade that leads over the long hill
from Saulz creek to Beaver creek,
from thence on to the Archuleta coun-
ty line, all of which is completed. 1t
is sixteen feet wide with graded
crowned center and ample drainage
bitches on each side. Coming back
from the county line where remark
able difference is shown in the new
road and the Archuleta county present
road, the party went up over the new
cut off road that goes up Beaver
creek on the south slope at gradient
not to exceed 5 per cent grade, and
that eliminates the Saulz creek hill
and also shortens the distance to Bay
field about one mile and in its loca-
ton obviates the frightful heavy
spring roads over the former route
though its being located on the north
slope and snow and ice lingering late
in the spring. Some five miles of
the new roadway is completed, there
being about two more miles to be con-
structed.
A heavy cloud-burst there last
Thursday did some s40O damage that
will be Immediately repaired. AS it
is a new grade the water washed
it out in parts. 1t also did great dam
age to crops there. Eight teams and
twenty-eight men are engaged in the
work under Foreman James Asher.
There is also another mile of the old
road out from Beaver creek to the
main road to Bayfield, to be worked
over.
When the force in the eastern part
of the county work are through they
will join the forces on the western
part and when that is finished the COM
bined forces or the work may be let
by contract by the board Of commits
sioners, when they meet next week,
for the construction of an entirely new
highway from Carbon Junction, begin
ming at point near the railroad cross
ing, above the old Carbon bridge
across the Animas and running upon
a grade along the hillsides above the
Rio Grande tracks to a point near
the mouth of horse gulch, distance
Of about three miles. This will do
away with the Carbon bridge and its
dangerous approaches and also elimi-
nate the dangerous railroad crossing
at the oil house.
The work on both the east and
west end of the county is expected
to be completed by Sept. 15, when
work on the Carbon cut off will begin
and upon its completion the highway
work in this county for this year
will cease. Next year the sections
from Bayfield, and from Hesperus to
Durango will be taken up and COM
pleted.
Chairman Reece, Engineer Good
man and all interested are to be con-
graduated upon the satisfactory re-
suits they have obtained in road build
ing and thanked for their untiring eff
forts to make our part of the state
highway equal to the best constructed.
The party trip was most enjoyable
up until the time Of their return when
the heavy rain of yesterday afternoon
while they were on the divide between
the Pine and the Florida, made the
roadway so slippery that their ma
chine and all others out on the road
slsidded badly, making great precau-
tion necessary to avoid being stalled
on the grades and keeping on the road
way. One car was STALLED" for two