Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-06-23

OuA AhOol iAhpOItdHl present FOdu pFOJeCl a.
the canyon undoubtedly is the requirement. of the
Kim road. Only horse travel was permitted on
lnls road; L directed the opening of the road to
motor travel, and the public transportation serv-
ice was changed from horse to motor propelled
vehicles. Since then the road tas suffered great
deal from the heavy travel over IT. Eight miles
in length, it 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 by US, and is only
single width and not adapted to two-way travel.
Il have also submitted estimate to commence
the construction of rim road eastward from Ell
Tovar toward DeserA Ayiew. Upon its completion
within two three wears, we will have a rim
road drive from Hermit Rest on the west of official
headquarters to Desert View distance of over
40 miles. For scenic beauty it will challenge COM
parison.
"The estimates also include item for secur-
ing right of way for the Ell TOvarDesert View
Rim road l hope this expenditure of government
funds will not be necessary, feel that tie priv
ate holdings which will be crossed by the pro-
posed road will be sufficiently benefited by its
construction to make it to the advantage of the
owners of these lands TO donate a right of way.
1 feel sure these owners public spirited as
to take this point of view, and that in donating
this right of way they are not only benefting them
selves and Grand Canyon park but also the people
who visit the park.
I'm addition to the improvement and mainte-
nance WOTk on Cno llIn EOdU anu OLleF upkeep
work the other park roads, the present EI
Tovar-Des6rt View road has been widened,
Strengthened, and reShaped for about Onehalf 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 one of our future needs. This can
be postponed until next year, and have not in
cluded it 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 developments planned by the
Santa Fe railroad in Grand canyon one of which
is the construction of a water system which will
probably have for its 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 one that must be definitely
solved Water on the north rim near Bright Ange
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 once apparent and the
great desirabity of installing some system BY
which water can be pumped either from the f1ooI
of the canyon, about l mile below the surface o.
the rim, or from elsewhere is obvious It is ap
parent that travel may sometime reach a poin
where with the present method of securing water
we will not be able to secure sufficient quantity
of that precious fluid to supply each traveller.
"The organic act creating this park authorizes
us to negotiate with the county of Coconino fo
the purchase of its rights in the Bright Angel toll
road and trail, and to report to congress the term
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 o.
Coconino for the transfer of the Bright Ange
trail, but thus far without definite results Gu
engineer department has, however, made prem
mary examination of the situation, covering il
fact the entire trail situation in the park.
probably the greatest problem confronting thu
service upon its taking the administrator
OF the park was the existence of the many claim
of alleged mineral value. Among these were tn
claims located by Ralph H. Cameron, which hav,
been in litigation for several years. Twenty-thret
Cameron claims have been declared invalid: Col
den Eagle Cape Horn, Wizard Alder mill site
Willow mill site, Magician, Banjo Millionaire Sen
tinel Treasure, Peg Leg, Hill Top, Suntlower Lime
stone, GOldenOla, lea May, Buttnsky Cheyenne
Dakotah, BannOck, Apache, Folly, Hermit, Gorge.