The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-07-09

"Our most important present road project ar
the canyon undoubtedly is the requirement. of the
Rim road Only horse travel was permitted on
this road; directed the opening of the road to
motor travel, and the public transportation sery-
ice was changed from horse to motor-propelled
vehicles. Since then the road has 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 over 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 Desert View. Upon its completion.
within two or three years, We viii have rim
road drive from Hermit Rest the west Of official
headquarters 10 Desert View, distance of over
40 miles, For scenic beauty it will challenge COM
parison.
1.-THE estimates also include an item for secur-
ing right of way for the Ell Tovar-nesert View
Rim road. 1 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 it to the advantage OF the
owners of these lands to donate right of way.
feel sure these owners are so public spirited as
to take this point of view, and that in donating
this right of way they not only benefting them
selves and Grand Canyon park but also the people
who visit the park.
"In addition to the Improvement and mainte-
nance work on the Rim road and other upkeep
work on the other park roads, the present I'll
Tovar-Desert 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 cOndltl0n
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 n my estimates to congress. 1t may be
practicable to connect the north and south rims
by wireless, either telephone or telegraph and
this question is receiving careful study.
There are some 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 source Bright Angel creek
on the north side of the river, and possibly the
establishment of small power plant on that
creek. The establishment of an adequate water
supply for the south rim of the canyon is serious
problem and one 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 lbs miles distant Every gallon or
daily cost of this is at once apparent, and the
great desirability of installing some system by
which water can be pumped either from the floor
of the canyon, about mile below the surface OF
the rim or from elsewhere is obvious. It is APP
parent that travel may sometime reach q point
where with the present method of securing water
we vii. not be able to secure sufficient quantity
of that precious fluid to supply each traveller.
1.-THE organic act creating this park authorizes
us 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 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 prelin,
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 over the administration
of the park was the existence OF the many claim.
OF alleged mineral value. Among these were the
claims located by Ralph III. Cameron which have
been In litigation for several years Twenty-thres
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. Hin Top Sunfower, Lime
stone, Goldenola. Ida May, Buttinsky. Cheyenne
Dakotah. Bannock. Apache. Folly. Hermit GorgA'