Williams news., 1919-03-21
NEW ROAD EASIER
 THAN ASHFORK ROAD


 ly assured by the passage of the
 bill appropriating $25,0OO out
 of state funds, for it's construc-
 ton, has peculiar natural
 advantages which make 1t
 a particularly desirable route
 for state highway. It makes
 the shortest possible connecting
 link between the roads of the
 south and the old Santa Fe
 Trail of the north it offers an
 easy problem of construction
 because of the easy grade en-
 countered; it will be of immen-
 SC value to the stockmen and
 farmers both of Coconino and
 of Yavapai. and it will offer an
 easy ad direct route for the
 people of the south to see the
 wonders of the Grand Canyon,
 and to enjoy the delightful
 summer climate of Coconino
 county.
 Twenty five thousand dollars is but about one fourth of what is really needed to complete this road, but with this twenty five thousand as starter it is practically assured that the re- mainder can be secured. Pri- vate contributions from citizens of Williams and other towns who will be benefited by the road, will aid materially in se- curing the necessary funds Western Coconino is entitled to have a just portion of the coun- ty road funds expended in this part of the county, and it is but fair that the people in this side of the county should have a voice in determining where the funds should be expended. Both Coconino and Yavapai counties should add literally to the fund for this new road. There are other moneys which should be avaible, also, and withall the, hundred thousand or so that will be needed should be forthcoming.
 The making of the survey and estimate is the next step to be taken and that should not many months. With this done and the amount act ually needed to construct the. road, definitely known, it will then be possible to set out with this amount as an object and secure the necessary funds.
 The exact route of the road must be left to the state engi- neer and is usless to attempt to predict just where that route will fall, but it ie certain that it will be no worse than the two old roads that were formerly used by the federal stage, and it is probable that the state en- glneer will be able to pick out a still better route. In either case, this new road will not be as difficult of ascent as the pre- sent Ash Fork road, due to the fact that the grade will be bet ter equalized. At no point will l there be a descent as abrunt and difficult as the present Ash Fork hill, and this Ash Fork hill is not very difficult excent i in extremely wet weather. The new road must make a descent of two-thousand feet in the course of about eleven miles. while the Ashfork road makes !. 3 descent of sixteen-hundred | feet in about the same distance [ but the Ash Fork road makes an abrupt drop of several hutn- | dred feet on one hill while the descent by the south road will | be much more evenly divided 1 along the course. The eleven miles of descent as here com i puted for the WiIliamsClark, dale road. is taken in an air me, which. of necessity, is con- S1derably shorter than any road that could be actually construc- ted. The road being longer than eleven miles. would fur Eher reduce the degree of the grade.
 Once opened to travel, the road will grow rapidly in pon- ularity, for the reason that if is the most direct and most feas- lble route possible for conect- ing the roads of the south with she wonderland of the north Phoenix, Prescott, Clarkdale Jerome, and in fact all of the southland, will be brought