The copper era and Morenci leader., 1920-06-11
COUNTY ENGINEER
 MAKES REPLY
( Continued from Page one)

| this location. Yet our critic needs but ! about thirty minutes time, no rod
 chain or other instrument, or any
 assistance, to decide that this location 1 is of the worst kind.
 Since construction began, any real ! change made in the location of this road has resulted in a better road ano
 a saving to the county.
 i The welfare of the taxpayers seems l to be very close to the Highway En- i gineers heart, but why stop with the i discussion of the Clifton -SprIngerville Road when the taxpayers money | spent and is being spent on other l projects.
 In a report by the Highway Com
 mission to the Board of Supervisors
 the following statements are made:
 "The following projects have been
 investigated and their construction i is recommended should funds for such purpose become available: The construction of a foot bridge
 over the Gila River at Sheldon, the
 estimate cost of which is $100O.OO'' Note: This bridge was completed
 some time ago at a cost of $5691 .37. "A highway between the main coun- ty highway and Guthrie, there being at present no road enabling persons living at Guthrie to reach the main
 highway. The estimate cost of such
 improvement is $20OO 0O.' Note: This highway was complet- ed at cost of $6541.71.
 The construction of a highway | between the town of Morenci and [ 0<rl1 timated cost of $40,000.00.'' Note: This highway has been part
 ly constructed and was divided into two contracts, one at each end. The i cost of these two sections was $37,-
 20S.39. The unconstructed part of 1 this highway leads down to and through Gold Gulch, and if construct ed will no doubt prove to be the most expensive part of the road, probably necessitating an expenditure of an amount at least equal to that of the parts constructed.
 It is to be borne in mind that the estimated cost given were not gues- sed at by the members of the High
 way Commission, but are the estima- tes furnished them by their engineer who was employed by them for that : pupoSe.
 In regard to the Wards Canyon project the Highway Commissions i report reads as follows: l We find that a highway can be [ constructed from the town limits of
 the Town of Clifton through what is
 known as Wards Canyon, the same
 connecting with the present Duncan
 to Clifton Highway, at an estimated i cost of s45,O00.O0."
 Note: This highway, according to i a tabulated statement of bids receiv-
 ed and made in the State Engineers
 office. is to cost when completed, not
 including surfacing, $7S,341. 36. The
 amount expended to May 31st, on this
 work is 53,099.06., not including the
 cost of pipe culverts, cement and re-
 inforcing steel.
 The Commission reports as follows
 on the Clifton-Franklin highway.
 We find that the present highway
 between Clifton and Franklin is in
 need of repairs and estimate the cost of such repairs is the sum of 5,000-
 CO.,
 Note: These repairs, according to the same tabulated statement from
 the State Engineer's office when made will cost S57.296.43.
 None of the cost items here quoted include engineering costs, and it
 would appear from the above stated facts that but little engineering was done by the Engineer for the High way Commission prior to February | 1. 1920 This can hardly be true how ever, as the total spent on engineer ing up to that date was $17,679.F. , This would figure at about 301s per
 cent of the total construction cost of S57.635.S7 for the same period. How many of the taxpayers, for whom such heartfelt sympathy has been expressed in words, know that
 the term of office of the Engineer of
 the Highway Commission expires
 when the bond fund of s200,000.00 vot-
 ed last year. is exhausted. Perhaps i some of you have wondered why the
 method of one project at time is i being. and has been so faithfully car ried out.
 For the information of the people of Greenlee County, on Feb 2S, 1920.
 bids were received at the office of the Board or Supe ',-isors at 1ol- brook for the cons -" ion of Fodei Il Aid Project No. ). between 1u]brCCk
 and St. Johns through the Petrified Forest. This is to be another link in the highway to Grand Canyon, of which the Clifton-Springerville High way is a part. It would be regret table if the people of Greenlee Coun- ty were to allow themselves to be in f1unced by any attempt to retard the construction of the Clifton-Springer- vile highway.
 B. VANDERCOOK Cunty Engineer.