Weekly journal-miner., 1918-08-21
SHORT LINE ROAD FINDS NO FAVOR
 WITH ATWOOD
STATE ENGINEER TELLS HUNT WHY HE CAN'T SEE FEASIBILITY OF CONSTRU CHIN THE CUTOFF HIGHWAY.
(From Saturdays Dailyl


 is quite apparently attempting to put the Indian sign on the efforts Of the citizens of Yavapai county to con- struct the Prescott-Jerome short line highway, has transmitted a lengthy communication to Governor Hunt, setting forth long list of objections which he has against giving Yavapai what it wants in the way of a road, and strongly recommending that if the county must have a road between its county-seat and the big copper camp, the highway should be built via Verde, Cottonwood and Clarkdale
 In order that the taxpayers of the county may judge for themselves as to the merits or demerits of Mir. At woods contentious, the communica- ton is produced herewith in full: My dear Governor:
 In compliance win your request, we hand you herewith comparative re- ports on the Prescott Jerome Direct Route and Prescott-Verde-Co Cotton wood -Clarkdale- Jerome via Cherry Creek Hill Highways.
 Owing 10 the fact that the surveys have not as yet been completed, no estimate of quantities or costs are shown: these we will fill in later after completion of surveys, when we will make a more complete report of the two routes. Every effort is being made to complete this as rapidly as possible and feel sure that you ap- preciate the importance of correct estimate and a thorough understand ing of the situation before we start a piece of construction work requir- ing such an outlay of capital as does this and one that will draw so heavily on our resources.
 Several trail lines were run before we made out final locations and we feel that thc time was well spent.
 First:-
 Prescott Jerome Direct Route.
 What IS known as the Prescott Jerome Direct Route runs from the City of Prescott via the present Pres cott-Dewey road to the top of Lynx Creek hill, thence via Albertson's ranch along the mesa to the Agua Fria valley, crossing same at Yeager siding, thence up Yeager canyon to the Mingus summit. crossing same at an altitude Of 7025 feet above sea level, thence down Mescal gulch and around the south side of the mountain, until a point is reached above what is known on maps as Deception Gulch and on the opposite side of gulch and above the Hull mine, or tunnel. Thence down into Deception Gulch, crossing same below Walnut Springs, and terminating at the city limits of Jerome at point just south of the last row of houses south of the Unit ed Verde Hospital. The total mileage will be approximately 5.
 This is the most direct route obtain able between the two cities, which fact is strong argument for the con struction Of the highway It is not questioned but what the highway will carry an enormous traffic, for from five to eight months of the year, but the high altitude at which the sum- init is reached is very objectionable feature during the winter months and on oad like this one a great expense will be involved in keeping same open during the heavy snow falls which are likely to come during any winter
 Considering the traffic from an economical standpoint, the grades en- countered on this route arc undesir- able for while the maximum of six, per cent has been maintained throughout the location, it has been proven from experience that five or six miles Of straight six per cent without change Is hard on heavy loaded vehicles, especially motor vehicles. From Jerome, of course. the grades will not prove so long and steep, but from Clarkdalc the grade will be from four 10 six per cent to the city limits of Jerome, and through the city the grades run from six to eleven or possibly twelve per cent to the highway, then a six per cent for one and one half miles, making a total from Ciarkdalc Of seven and one half miles of heavy grades. From Mingus summit toward Jerome is another section of three miles of six per cent grade.
 Our instructions for the location of this highway were for a first class road and ono that will be safe for the heavy traffic which same will certain ly have to accommodate, and therefore inc estimate will naturally run much higher than that of the preliminary survey made for lavapai county, which has grades as high as ten per cent To construct a road like this proposed one with ten per cent grade appears absurd and it will be a great mistake to try and economize in cost by sacrificing grades.
 There is no question but what Pres