The Coconino sun., 1921-10-28

park and forest service and the Noun tain States Telephone company, get together on a phone line along the road with free boxes every ten miles, which could be used by tourists in case of trouble along the road.
 MT. Mathers is most pleasing and affable gentleman to meet and most energetic one whose whole soul is wound up in his work. He knows the national parks in every detail and had just left Secretary of the Interior Fall before coming to the Grand Canyon. His local worry seemed to be the pro posed charge of a season fee for auto mobiles coming into the park, fee which would help in the upkeep. The suggestion that a trip fee be charged did not seem to meet with his ap- proval, but since the travelling world is made up mainly of what might be technically called "trippers," he will probably find that the trip fee will work out better and with less com plaint that a fee chared for a whole season when the average visitor will not visit the park again until the fol- lowing season---if at all. It would seem that the single fee would work better locally as we'll as generally with nationwide traffic.
 The prevailing feeling left by Di- rector Mathers, when finally digested locally, was thAt he had not fully grasped the size of the problem which faces the people of Coconino county and the many difficulties under which they are working, but confined his enthusiasm too closely to the park idea, in which Coconino county should be the grantor. A rather natural angle for government official to take when first confronted with a problem of this kind.
 First off one does not fully realize that everything east of the Mississippi river went to the people who were hardy enough to go out and get it. For many years the west was exploit ed. It was exploited until people east of tine Mississippi discovered that the west was a useful country.
 The reversal of feeling became so strong that for the past few years it has been difficult to get a homestead, because the eastern folks feel that it should be reserved for their children's children, regardless of existing con- ditions.
 However, the map of Arizona has been splotched with colors showing reservations until there is very little white showing where private enter prise may develop and provide funds for carrying on the county govern ment. Even the state of Arizona does not fully realize the extent of the bur den that is being carried by the coun- ty for the benefit of the whole state and the nation.
 It is easy to see that better roads are needed; that more bridges are nec- essary; that additional telephone lines would be of great value for the con- fort and convenience of the great travelling public.
 There is no question but we want the world to come. Coconino invites the world to come and view the wop- der of wonders which happens to lie in Ter confines and is willing to go as far as her taxing privilege will go in improving conditions, but there is a limit.
 The Southern California Edison company proposes to build dams and roads at the cost of some five or six hundred millions of dollars. People locally are strong for the expenditure of that amount of money by private individuals.
 Why?
 If the government builds the dams we are just where we are. with in- creased demands for helping to build