The copper era and Morenci leader., 1916-03-24
MOGOLLON ROAD IS FEASIBLE OVER
 NEW ROUTE
Mutual Advantages to GreenIee County and Mining Companies at MogoIIon Are Apparent-Joint Com mittee Goes Over Route.

The initial steps in an undertaking having for it's ultimate end the con struction of a highway connecting Greenlee county with the - Mogollon Mining District were taken this week when a committee from the Greenlee County Chamber of Con- merce, accompanied by s. c. Redd, county engineer, met MT. s. J. Kid der and A. J. Anderson, mine mana gers from the Mogollon district, who were accompanied by MT. Botsford, mining engineer for the Mogollon Mines company and went over that portion of the proposed highway lying in New Mexico. The party from Clifton was composed of Messrs. 7 Kelly, Webster and Redd, who left here on Monday morning horseback. On the trail going over they were joined by Forest Supervisor Adams and J. D. Parks, both familiar with that section of the country. The party from Clifton spent Monday at the Stockton ranch, ten miles this side of Jackson, New Mexico, where they were entertained in a hospita- he manner by MT. and Mrs. Stock ton.
 The party from Mogollon arrived dx the Stockton ranch at noon on Tues day and an idea of the country be- tween Stockton's ranch and Mogollon can be gained when the statement is made that the party drove over in an auto and was able to proceed west of the ranch for distance of three miles in the same conveyance. At this point the entire party, now con- sisting of twelve members, mounted horses and rode in a westerly direc- tion for two or three miles over rolling country to the Arizona state line. The personel of the party at this time consisted of Wm. Stock ton, Miss Gertrude Stockton. Roy Allison, Jack Bass, s. J. Kidder, A. J. Anderson, R. R. Webster, Oscar Layton, Engineer Botsford, Engineer s. c. Redd and w. B. Kelly.
 Before starting on the trip to the Arizona line discussion of the road proposition was had between the represe sentatives from Clifton and the mine managers from Mogollon. The mutual advantages to be gained by the construction of the connecting highway were gone into thoroughly The potent reasons advanced for the construction of the highway may be given as. follows:
 i. A shdfter haul between Clifton ana MOSOIlOn as cOnpdreu IO ollNer City
 Z. A better highway between Cliff ton and Mogollon as compared to Sil- yer City, such a highway being open for traffic every day in the year, properly graded and drained.
 8. The connection afforded Mogol- lon with rich agricultural district in Greenlee county thus affording cheaper hay and grain
 That the mine managers from Mo gollon were fully alive to the advan- tages offered by the proposed Clifton Mogollon road was evidenced from the start. They frankly. stated to the Clifton representatives that they looked at the proposition from a purely business standpoint and as sured them that if the proposition was such that the Mogollon district could reduce their haulage expense by a connecting road to Clifton that they were willing to build the necessary portion of the road in NewA Mexico without asking for any assistance. That the saving in haulage charges from Clifton as compared to Silver City can be shown beyond a doubt is the opinion of those who have made study of the conditions. That this saving will amount to more than twen- ty-five thousand dollars per annum is making a low and conservative es- timute Men who are familiar with freighting in this section have no hesitancy in saying that the freight charges can be reduced twenty per cent, and probably more, over the route Of the Clifton-Mogollon high way.
 The mine managers stated to the committee from Clifton that their haulage charges per annum amounted to approximately $200,00O and that fifty per cent of this amount was expended in hauling crude oil alone. On this commodity the present freight rate on the railroad is the same to Clifton as it is to Silver City. On this item alone the saving in wagon CT truck haulage would be $20,000 per annun if not more.
 That portion of the road lying in New Mexico will be comparatively easy to build as an old road is now in use within two miles of the Arizona line and with comparatively small outlay could be put in good condition for heavy teams and trucks. In Greenlee county it would be necessary to build road approximately eigh- teen miles in length to make the connection at the boundary line be- tween Arizona and New Mexico, as a portion of the present highway be- tween Clifton and Duncan would be travelled to a point eight miles east of Clifton. It is roughly estimated that the amount to be expended by Greenlee county would amount to S75,O00. It is necessary to dwell on the importance to Clifton and the agri- cultural districts of the county by con- necing this section with new mar ket and mining district at Mogollon.