Arizona republican., 1915-11-29
SAYS STATE HAS
 FINE HIGHWAYS
San Francisco Highway Engineer Examines Num- ber of Roads In Vicinity of Phoenix and Praises State Engineer Cobb

R. II. Parker, consulting engineer
 Tor number of the largest and best
 known road building firms of San
 Francisco, arrived in Phoenix on
 Saturday for the purpose of investi-
 gatnS some of the highways in and
 about this city. MT. Parker, ac-
 cordInS to the statement which he
 made yesterday evening on the SUD-
 ject, was more than pleased with
 what he found in the line of good
 roads, and gives most of the credit
 to State Engineer Cobb and his force
 of helpers for the fine condition in
 which the state highways are being
 maintained
 In speaking of the matter. Nil.
 Parker said:
 My presence in Phoenix suggested
 to good friend my interest. en-
 thusiasm and activities in road con
 struction. As a matter of fact I
 came to Arizona to see what had
 been accomplished and what was contemplated in the matter of good
 roads, some word of which develop
 mcnt had reached California. My
 friend arranged for me to meet AIr.
 Lamar Cobb, state engineer. and MT. Cobb took me into his car and his
 confidence and we have driven anG talked over many miles of road near Phoenix, with the result that. thor oughly familiar with what has been done throughout the entire country
 am distinctly surprised and gratI- lied at the work performed by the state hereahouts have carefully examined the Tempe and Glendale roads and have been 2Iren the de - tails of construction methods used in each. one distinctive fact fs that such satisfactorily permanent types 5f load can be built at such slight iex- pense per mile, when the cost of proper drainage is itself quite an item. on analysis it would seem that through particularly desirable material for road building being To- cally available at reasonable cost. and economical construction methods. consequent upon intelligent organiza- | tion of working forces every fifty
 cents expended has given the tax payers one dollar in value.
 What I mean is this-without in stituting any comparisons-near Phoe- nix you have state-built roads cost | ing, say 5000 per mile. and I know | other places in other states where materials cost about the same and loads not any better than yours. and some not as good. cost S1O.oO0 per mile, It would seem from results ! already placed under hoofs and tires in the way of good. permanent roads. | that all concerned should be con graduated
 Investigation proves the territory
 around Phoenix to abound in desira-
 ble road-building material, easy to secure at reasonable cost Of produc-
 tion. I am told that similar condi- 1 tions exist generally throughout the state Admitting this. the question l of building permanent roads should automatically adjust itself develop ment being merely matter of brains. money and time. and true 'Iend- a-hand' spirit on the part of all. l am informed that the matter of maintaining the roads already built will be vigorously handled This is wise, and really as important as the original construction. Based upon my inspection and knowledge of the Tempe and Glendale roads as per manently constructed. I am sure thev I will be comfort and delight to all users for a good many years. and that, too, at a minimum expense for upkeep
 If the lesson can be learned that good roads permanently built are an
 investment and not tax. it will be we'll
 l can but add that the state-burt roads around Phoenix are of a type and character to encourage every person in the state and what is 7nnsf wanted is more of them"