The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1921-06-18

Our most important present road project al
the canyon undoubtedly is the requirement. of tho
hlm road. Only horse travel was permitted on
this road; directed the opening of the road to
motor travel, and the public transportation serv-
ice was changed from horse to motor-propeled
vehicles. Since then the road has suffered great
zeal from the heavy travel 1t. Eight miles
IN length, 1t was paved in 1913 by the Santa Fe
railroad In order that attractive trip might be
available for winter visitors 1t was practically
worn out when taken over by u.s. and is only
single width and not adapted to two-way travel.
! nave also submitted an estimate to commence
the construction of a rim road eastward from Ell
Ioyar toward Desert View. Upon its completion
within two or three years, we will have a rim
road drive from Hermit Rest the west of official
headquarters to Desert View, distance of
70 miles For scenic beauty 1t will challenge CON-
parson.
'The estimates also include an item for secur-
ing right Of way for the Ell Tovar-Desert View
Rim road hope this expenditure OF government
funds will not be necessary as feel that the priv
ate holdings which will be crossed by the pro-
posed road will be sufficiently benefited by its
construction to make 1t to the advantage Of the
owners Of these lands to donate a right Of way.
feel sure these owners are public spirited as
to take this point of view. and that In donating
this right of way they not only benefitng them
selves and Grand Canyon park but also the people
who visit the park.
"In addition to the improvement and mainte-
nance work the Rim road and other upkeep
work the other park roads, the present Ell
TovarDesert View road has been widened,
Strengthened. and reshaped for about one-half its
entire length. Many dangerous curves and grades
have been eliminated and the general condition
of the road improved.
"a complete telephone system which will con-
meet the north and south rim of the canyon and
the ranger stations that will be built for the
ranger force is of our future needs. This can
be postponed until next year, and have not in
cuded 1t in my estimates to congress 1t may be
practicable to connect the north and south rims
by wireless. either telephone telegraph, and
this question is receiving careful study.
There some developments planned by the
Santa Fe railroad in Grand canyon, of which
is the construction of water system which will
probably have for its source Bright Angel creek
on the north side of the river, and possibly the
establishment of small power plant that
creek The establishment of adequate water
supply for the south rim of the canyon is a serious
problem and that must soon be definitely
solved. Water on the north rim near Bright Angel
Point is secured at present from several small
springs, that with little improvement will probably
be adequate in quantity and quality. On the
south rim of the canyon, however, the hotel and
railroad have to haul their water by train from
Del Rio about 125 miles distant. Every gallon of
water has to come that distance. The tremendous
daily cost of this is at apparent, and the
great desrability of installing some system by
which water can be pumped either from the floor
of the canyon, about l mile below the surface of
the rim or from elsewhere is obvious. 1t is ap-
parent that travel may sometime reach point
where with the present method of securing water
will not be able to secure sufficient quantity
of that precious fluid to supply each traveller.
1.-THE organic act creating this park authorizes
to negotiate with the county of Coconino for
the purchase of its rights in the Bright Angel toll
road and trail and to report to congress the terms
upon which this property can be secured. An eff
fort has been made the past year TO arrive at some
satisfactory basis of settlement with the county of
Coconino for the transfer of the Bright Angel
trail. but thus far without definite results. Our
engineer department has, however, made prelim-
mary examination of the situation, covering in
fact the entire trail situation in the park.
"Probably the greatest problem confronting the
service upon its taking the administration
of the park was the existence of the many claims
of alleged mineral value. Among these the
claims located by Ralph ii. Cameron, which have
been in litigation for several years Twenty-three
Cameron claims have been declared invalid: Col
den Eagle, Cape Horn, Wizard, Alder mill site,
Willow mill site, Magician, Banjo Millionaire Sen
tine Treasure, Peg Leg Hill Top. Sunfiower Lime
stone Goldenola Ida May, Buttinsky, Cheyenne
Dakotah, Bannock, Apache, Folly. Hermit Gorge