Arizona republican., 1920-07-23

line of the Banl1head highway from Tucson to Florence through Pinal county, Florence to Phoenix through Maricopa county and from Phoenix to Yuma by way of Agua Caliente. The statement is made that the road con- ditions between Phoenix and Yuma are not favorable
 Our committee has made tnvestiga- tions and finds that according to the itinerary issued by the war department on June 5, the convoy will arrive at Tucson on September 1; at Florence
 September 2 Phoenix, September 3; PaIo Verde, September 4, and remain
 ing at Palo Verde over Sunday, Sep
 tember 5. On September 6, the convoy
 will arrive at Agua Caliente; on Sep
 tember z, at a point 30 miles west Of 1As1i. AgIa Callente; on September 5, a' Welton; and on September at Yuma, giving three days to the run from Agua Caliente to Yuma
 Our committee has ascertained that the section of the Phoenix Yuma road, which is reported in very poor condi- tion, and which is used in the argument for diverting the convoy, does not lie in Maricopa county but is west of Agua Caliente. and in Yuma county.
 We have asked the board of super visors of MaricOpa county if they can be counted upon to do everything to 4iciD III AuahllS Jily IOaQ IGpsALIo WlAANI
 may be necessary in Maricopa county,
 and have a letter in response, a copy of which letter is herewith.
 The statement that part of the road in Yuma county is in poor repair is confirmed by a recent letter from the county engineer of Yuma county, let
 ter under date of July 13. to Hon. Thomas Maddocl1, state engineer. Mir.
 Maddock has probably already supplied you with copy of the letter re- ferred to-
 Our committee believes that of the
 many purposes which the war depart
 ment hopes to serve by the journey of this convoy, there are three which
 are of great importance, and they are
 roads. education and recruiting. First,
 roads: The possibility of establishing
 a line of highway which may serve as | a general east and west road across | the continent, to be available for milf | tary and commercial use, and the gen | eral needs sof the public travelling by auto; Second, education: Giving the people of the nation some example of the work of the Motor Transport | Corps of the army, and demonstrating
 the value of motor vehicles for general transportation purposes; Third, recruit
 ing: To secure additional recruits for
 the various branches of the army, and | to bring the army in closer touch with
 the people.
 It would seem that the objects de-
 sired by the war department could be 1 best served in Arizona by bringing this 1 convoy through the Salt River valley. This valley constitutes the largest
 center of population in the state of
 Arizona In no other section of the | state could the educational advantages | of this convoy trip be presented to
 such a. great number of people and at
 the same time to people who will use | the motor vehicle as a means of trans l fr afer~ ax-fo l other class oS people in Arizona I There are in this county over 1000 1 farms operated under intensive cultiva- tion where modern methods are being l introduced probably more rapidly than in any other section of the country. The educational value of the visit of this convoy will be fully warranted by the trip through this valley, where there are located 12,677 motor vehicles out of
 the total of 30,S5s for all Arizona.
 We have not yet received the cen sus figures for the counties of the 1 state, but for estimates of population by counties, we have the total regis tration for the general election to be held in November. This table shows
 that Maricopa county has at this time 1 16,S31 out of a total of 40,274 for the | entire state. We believe these figures l fully demonstrate that this is the
 county to traverse if educational and
 recruiting advantages are to be secured ! by this convoy, and we realize that you 1 appreciate the value of the facts and | figures here enumerated.
 4 The road value is also very great; nc
 county has yet equaled in amount the
 money. voted in Maricopa county fol
 road bonds.
 Some have suggested that the diver
 sion by way of Ajo is because R the
 shorter route. short lines of road beins
 more desirable, and for this reason, the
 army would prefer to use the line by
 way of Ajo Our committee is inclined to question the merit of this contention If it is true, then the shortest line from Fl Paso to Phoenix would be by way of Globe and the Roosevelt dam and the shortest line from Phoeni, to the coast would be by way O Blythe, but this argument is not advo cated by any member of our committed possible to route the convoy by wa! county line, that the connection iron Phoenix to the coast be by the way O Blythe or Parker, or even directl. north. connecting with the Nationa Old Trails road at Ash Fork. Gu committee understands, however, tha the question of routing has alread, 4 been decided upon by the war depart | ment, and that it includes the trip b. way of Phoenix, and that ali that 1 \ required of the communities along tn N line is to see that the roads are mad N as traveable as possible. This, theT N is the occasion of our call upon you K We desire your assistance and tha