Semi-weekly herald., 1914-09-10


have nothing personally against the
commissioner of highways for we
have been on terms of personal friend
ship for many years and we know OF
his honesty in every way--onIy he
has trusted too much to others when
we feel that he has had time to cover
all sections of the state where con.
Meeting links are desired and requir-
ing large sums Of money.
/
The Herald editor is vitality inter-
ested in the good roads movement
We ha We boosted in and out of season
for good roads and supported every
measure calculated to help in this di-
rection. The writer was the only
one attending the meeting at Pueb-
10, representing the Durango board OF
trade, when the Spanish Trail Grand
Canon Highway association was form
ed. For nearly year we have had to
fight various schemes to bemuddle the
people of this southwest section, es-
pecially that of getting the local
board of trade to put up $500, along
with contributions from other coun-
ties, to make an investigation of Mr..
Wyman's proposed route on the north
side of the Grand canon when every
one at all posted, and study of the
map yerifies. that such highway is
out of the question from money
standpoint If nothing else, although
it is quite well known that a bird
would lose its way trying to cover
the proposed route. Advocacy of a
route between Pagosa Springs and the
San Luis valley which he had not been
entirely over, at least with instru-
ments, shows screw loose some place
and it's time the people awoke and
demanded something besides talk.
The best road building time of the
year has gone by and snow will soon
be falling in the mountain sections
| which means additional cost with less
to show for the money. Therefore,
we say to Mr.. Ehrhart. get in the
saddle and take personal charge of
the great highways of the state. MIR.
Ehrhart, you are held responsible by
the taxpaying publis as whole and
hereafter you should know whether
route is feasible and refuse to 0. X.
any route that has not been surveyed
and gone over by yourself. The peo-
pie have confidence in your judgment
but they feel that you have not Civ
en- the question of connecting links
and the work generally the attention
required.
Commissioner Catchpole is hopeful
of accomplishing large amount of
work on the Wolf creek route yet
this fall-possibly making connection
with the San Luis valley, should the
weather continue favorable until No
vember, and that by July of next yeat
the highway will be open to the pub
lie. The Herald trusts there will b.
no further bitches in the way and t. al
pipe dreams in way of road building
will be cast aside and time and energy
devoted to the real thing.
Regarding the road between Duran
go and Pagosa Springs we will state
that few hundred dollars will place
the highway in very good condi ion
Outside of rainy weather the roat
between Durango, Bayfield, and tn
Piedra can be Travelled from earl
spring until late in fall without diff
ficulty, but in rounding the hill aftel
crossing the Piedra going to Pages,
there are several bad places--reguio
mudholes that are really inexeusaole
These mudholes should be filed in ant
the road graveled short distance
By remedying these places good tim'
can be made all the way to Dyke al.
Pagosa outside of rainy weather
Coming this way from Pagosa thu
heaviest grade is encountered the iirs
three miles out except one place abou
eight miles from the town. Thos
grades can be made easily excep
when the roads are very heavy--w
made the first eight miles in yer.
/, good time with six in our auto af'e
an all nights rain and stead.
downpour at the time, but became
stalled eight miles out. In time tn
state and county should spend tw'
or three thousand dollars gravelinl
the steep hills, and the same nigh
apply to the hill about mile eas
: of Bayfield, and the pitch crossing tn
Morrison ditch just west Of Bayfiel
and possibly one or two other hills be
tween Durango and Bayfield, a tota
distance of not over n mile on the l.
Plata county side. Then autos woul
be able to make the trip rain or n
4 rain every day of the year except i
+ very deep snow. But without regar
to graveling the hills, the niudhole
above referred to should be fixe
9 without delay. OF course we passe
over the road during rainy spell
q but there is no excuse for the mud
a lhole at the bend of the hill Wher