The copper era and Morenci leader. [volume] (Clifton, Ariz.) 1911-1929, 1914-11-27
ROAD BUILDING IS
PROGRESSING
SATISFACTORILY
County Road Construction inaugural
ed by Board of Supervisors Employ
ing approximately Six Hundred and
Fifty Men Expected to be Completed
by January First.
with the coming of the

With the coming of the present
industrial depression in this district,
when hundreds of employees were
thrown out of employment, the Board
of Supervisors decided upon a plan
for the partial relief of this condition
Immediately inaugurating system of
highway construction within the coun-
ty which had been in contemplation
for the year 1915. This work was
commenced in September and the
expectation is that by the first of
January approximately seventy-fve
thousand dollars will have been ex-
pended and six hundred and fifty
men given employment during this
period.
The work has been surveyed and
mapped out by County Surveyor H.
and the construction work is in
charge of S. F. Await. County Road
Superintendent, who directs the work
through foremen on the different
pieces of construction. The wages
: paid range from So 90 to So. 90 per
day for bosses.
From point on the Duncan road
known as Indian Grove, distance of
eighteen miles, one hundred men
have found employment This work
consists of grading, crowning, putting
in new drainage and gravelling at an
approximate cost to the county of
eight thousand dollars. This work
is expected to be completed shortly
after the first of the year.
The road work from Duncan to the
state line of New Mexico has been
completed, distance of seven miles
and forty men were engaged in this
work, which consisted of grading,
crowning, drainage and gravelling.
In the valley district, the most ex-
pensive piece of work which is be-
ing prosecuted, is a stretch three
miles in length between the farm of
Reece Webster and Indian Grove.
This is entirely new highway con-
struction and the old line along the
river has been changed. Here the
big road camp has been established
. and one hundred and thirty men are
on the payroll. This piece of con-
struction is up-to-date in every par
ticular and is estimated to cost, when
completed, $4,000. This work which
is expected to be completed on Dec.
prove the worst stretch of road be-
tween Duncan and Clifton.
At Morenci, Burro Alley street has
been widened from the D. C. M.
Plaza to the A. c. Hospital at cost
of $3.50. .OO
The most important piece of con-
struction, however, which is under
way at present, is the Morenci ex-
tension of the splendid highway work
done by Contractor Cotey and ex-
tends distance of 2 Sc miles to the
Morenci plaza, the maximum grade at
any point being seven per cent. The
construction of this modern high
way, forty feet wide on curves, en-
tails large amount of concrete con-
struction work in the Morenci canyon
to take care of the flood drainage. On
Nov. 10th approximately $16,500 had |
been expended and the estimated cost |
completed is $35, 900. Three hundred
and fifty men are being employed on |
this work which has now been in |
progress for five weeks and is expect |
ed to be completed on New Years |
day. In gaining the elevation requir-
ed for entrance into the town of Mo- |
renci two loops are made, and as a |
scenic highway, this road will take
first rank with any highway in the /
state. Familiar land marks in New (
Mexico, Old Mexico, and the southern |,
part of the state are visible for a
distance of more than hundred and
fifty miles.
The opinion of men who are fami-
liar with road construction is that
the county is receiving full value for
the work being done and the roads
are being constructed in a thorough
and up-to-date manner, while at the /
same time, approximately seven hun
dred men are being afforded employ
ment who otherwise would have been
compelled to forsake their homes and /
seek employment elsewhere.
In addition to the work being car
ried on by the county, Clay & Ruth,
contractors, are employing approx
mately one hundred and fifty men on I