Arizona republican., 1919-08-23
STATE QUITS ALL. HIGHWAY WORK IN
 |COCH|sE COUNTY
Action By Cochise Board Of Supervisors In Regard To Road Building IsFollowed
 By Order From Maddock

Merry war is on, apparently. be- tween the supervisors of Cochise coun- ty and the state engineer. One tacti- cal stroke has been delivered by each contestant, and they are now apparent ly waiting in their corners for the gong that will open the next round Honors apparently are even at this time.
 The trouble between the Cochise county supervisors and the state high way department has been brewing for some time, but active measures were taken only so far as the public view is concerned when the board addressed letter to Thomas Maddock, state en- gineer, informing him that that body will mo longer approve or counten- ance the payment of any more bills out of the 75 per cent road tax foun1 Of Cochise county"
 The return shot by the state en- gineer was delivered with vim, and consisted of an order to L F. Fraser, engineer in charge of road mainten- ance and construction in Cochise coun- ty, instructing him to immediately re- move all the road gangs and equip ment from Cochise to Pima county. The letter from the Cochise county supervisors eontaing the ultimatum arr rived yesterday. and reads as follows:
 Letter From Board
 August 1s, 1919. Hon. Thos. Maddock,
 State Engineer,
 Phoenix, Arizona.
 Dear Sir:
 By order of the board of super visors have been directed to ad- wise you that on and after Sep tenber i, 1918, this board will no longer approve nor countenance the payment of any more bills out of the 75 per cent road tax fund of Cochise county as the board desires to take over the super sisiug and directing of road mat ters within this county after the above date.
 For your information the board wishes to advise that the reason for taking these steps is owing to the fact that they are not satisfied with the present existing system; that under the system, proper re- suits have not been forthcoming, and from a business standpoint have been very unsatisfactory. Therefore, not conductive to the best methods of obtaining value received in exchange for the amounts expended.
 The board wishes to ka fair and just in this matter, but feel that for the best interest of Cochise county, this change is necessary
 Yours very truly,
 L. F. KuCHENBEcKER,
 Clerk Board of Supervisors. The reply was not delivered to the Cochise board. except by indirection. It was not 8 wordy reply, simply an order to do something and do it now. It follows
 State Engineer Replies
 Phoenix August 22, 1919. [. F. Fraser,
 Nogales, Arizona.
 Arrange to stop all work cochise county by August S1. Include time necessary to load construction and maintenance equipment. Notify all maintenance men impossible to lon1eI keep them in service. Move complete outfit onto road Vail to Empire in Pima county, to repair and widen roadbed. Will divert government T. N- T. from Fair banks to Vail. Use all trucks and caterpillars for moving. Notify Tombstone impossible to do work requested, also abandon proposed widening rock cuts between Bis bee and Tombstone. Be sure to incur no further indebtedness Cochise county after August These instructions account action board of supervisors.
 THOMAS MADDOX,
 State Engineer. T am exceedingly sorry this matter has come up" said State Engineer Maddock last night, flor it means that am compelled to take some very efficient road outfits and men out of the county.
 ''The maintenance men in Cochise county have been with the highway department through several adminis- trations. The work in Cochise is un- der the direction of A. W. Jenkins, who recently completed the grading of the road from Tombstone to Fair banks. He has been with this and the previous administration, and is re- ported 10 be one of the best highway engineers in this section.
 Relocated Highway
 "On taking charge of the work in Cochise he relocated the Tombstone Fairbanks road on high ground abounding with good surface material and bu3If a road that avoided culverts and washouts, thus reducing the cost considerably and building road that went through the recent floods down here in fine shape.
 Foreman Chadwick, in charge of the