Weekly journal-miner., 1918-08-21

lilIil, dIu IT lnC pOllSy lS lHduS UT dlSu of every administration changing the proposed system and adopting new routes, it IS very evident and plain that this State will never have a com- plete and connected system of high ways.
 Second:-
 Prescott to Verde, Clarkdale and
 Jerome Via Cherry Creek Hill
 This route runs from Prescott to Dewey, thence to Cherry and over the present Cherry Creek hill for approxi- mately two miles, thence in a mortimer ly direction direct to the new smelter town of Verde, distance from Pres colt of 45 miles approximately. This route crosses the divide between Prescott and the Verde valley at an elevation of 5400 feet above sea level.
 Comparison of the Two Routes.
 Prescott to Jerome, direct route, 5 miles: Cherry Creek route 5 miles.
 Prescott to Clarkdale, direct route. 41 miles: Cherry Creek route 4o miles.
 Prescott to Verde, direct route 42 miles; Cherry Creek route 45 miles.
 Prescott to Cottonwood direct route 42 miles; Cherry Creek route 45 miles.
 Number of miles to maintain not including section now travelled, direct route 2S miles: Cherry Creek route l2 miles.
 Number of miles surfaced road to maintain, direct route l6 miles; Cher " Creek route miles.
 Number of miles to construct, di- rect route 2S miles; Cherry Creek route l2 miles.
 Number of miles heavy mountain work, direct route 16 miles; Cherry Creek route ? miles.
 Estimated Running Time Using 20
 Miles Per Hour Over Mingus
 Mountain-Direct Route and speed
 of Is Miles Per Hour on the Cherry
 Creek Hill-Cherry Creek Route.
 Prescott to Jerome, direct route ? hours; Cherry Creek route 2}4 hours.
 Prescott to Clarkdalc, direct route 2H hours; Cherry Creek route 2H hours.
 Prescott to Verde, direct route 234 hours: Cherry Creek route hours.
 Prescott to Cottonwood, direct route 234 hours: Cherry Creek route hours.
 Running time reduced 20 minutes based on distance of completed routc.)
 Elevation at summit, direct route TOPS feet; Cherry Creek route 540O feet
 The direct route does not pass any towns or villages and crosses the mountain at an elevation of TOPS feet, while the Cherry Creek route passed through Dewey and besides being on the main State highway system and is the main route to the Verde valley as far asI Cherry Creek hill and a part of the line to Humboldt, Mayer and Phoe- nix. It crosses the divide at an eleva- ton of 54O0 feet above sea level. III the curves are lcssened speed limit of 20 miles per hour could be main tained on the Cherry Creek hill.
 It will be noticed that the saving in both mileage and running time exists only between Jerome and Pres colt. The difference between Clark dal and Verde to Prescott on the two routes is very small in mileage and the Cherry Creek route has the advantage in time from Verde and Clarkdale also in elevation of the divide Of 1000 feet. If we are to an ticipate the future a few years in ad- vance, it would appear that the com bined population of Verde, Cotton wood, Clarkdale, and the surrounding country would equal. if not exceed, that of Jerome within the next four or five years.
 Owing to the fact that at this time no estimates of costs of the two routes are available, it is impossible to make a comparison of costs; but if this project is to be constructed from state funds, 1t would appear that the section from Dewey to Cher " could be completed, the curves on Inc Cherry Creek hill frightened, and the line constructed from the Cherry Creek hill at point approximately TWO miles from Cherry direct to the own of Verde for approximately one lalf the cost of the direct route from Prescott to Jerome, which would eavc Q balance sufficient to complete , major portion of the State highway from Camp Verde to the Coconino line. However, this item or cost can not be considered until such lime as an intelligent estimate can Dc had.
 And too, another fact to be con ,idercd is that the federal government loes not look with favor upon pro- ects using federal aid money which are not on the proposed system out