Bisbee daily review., 1914-02-22
bOROERLANO
 ROUTE |S BEST
So Says Ben Welch, a Gull vert Man; He Also Points
 to Great Road Work Being Done by State Engineers

Arizona is fortunate. as a state, in the selection of its road engineers, according to Ben Welch, representing the Western Metal Company of Fl Paso and selling the greater part of the culverts for the various roads in the commonwealth. That the work all along the line will speak for it. self is not conclusive evidence. in the opinion of the visitor. but that one of the highest men in the United States bureau Of public road should speak SO highly of the force in this state binds the matter.
 Welch was speaking last night of the roads In Cochise county and par | ticulariy those between Bisbee and Tombstone and between Bisbee and Douglas. The culyert man covers more miles on the public roads than does any other man in the state, out side, perhaps, of the men in the em- ploy of the state engineers office and knows whereof he speaks when he talks good roads.
 He Is of the opinion that the piece of road being worked between the Warren district and Douglas will be one of the model pieces of road building in the country. The section of highway between Bisbee and Tcmb- stone closely approximates it.
 The people Of Arizona should con siier themselves extremely lucky in the matter of road builders" said Welch. "The roads in this state, at least those which have been worked, are in better shape today than similar roads in other parts of the country. This may be due tc certain extent to the matter of traffic. there being more travel in some other parts of the country than there is on our roads. but when everything is taken into consideration. our highways can not be beat.
 Tt would take me a long time t'' tell of the wonderful progress made in the past two years along what Is now known as the Borderland Route. Each and every automobile tourist who makes the road between Phoe- nix and the state line declares that the read is excellent. With the im- movements which are now being made upon 1t all along the line this will soon be the ideal piece of high' way in the great southwest. me people of Cochise county and those generally of Southern Arizona have certainly been alive tc the question of good roads and have established this particular route in the minds or all tourists who have made the trip' and also those who contemplate a trip. ae the latest and best in western road building.'
 ! Welch did not forget the engineers whc are responsible for the actual construction cf the good roads in ms conversation. saying that Ariloha should congratulate itself on the won derful showing it has made through the engineering department.
 The visitor told. a story Of a con versation between state Engineer Lamar Cobb and tho senior engineer in the bureau of public roads w. A. Crossland, who recently spent sonle weeks on the roads in Arizona
 Grassland, it would seem' became impressed with the very thorough wcrk being done in this section or the country He investigated the con ditions under which the roads were built and also the attitude of the pup lic toward the subject of roads. He was also impressed with the corps oi engineers who have been in active charge of the construction in the state.
 He Is reported as saying;
 If I should need some engineers for the bureau of public roads, MT. Cobb don't know where 1 would rather start in my quest for efficiency than right here is Arizona. consid' CT that you are, indeed, fortunate Tn securing the services of men like Ryan. Twitchell and Barlow"
 Welch left last evening for Doug las on business and will shortly re- turn to his home and headquarters In Phoenix. ''