Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1921-06-17

"Our most important present road project al
the canyon undoubtedly is the requirement. of the.
Rim road. Only horse travel was permitted on
this road; directed the opening of the road tn
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, 1t was paved in 1913 by the Santa Fe
railroad in order that an 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 twOway travel.
Il have also submitted an estimate to commence
the construction of rim road eastward from Ell
Tovar toward Desert View. Upon its completion
within two three years, we will have 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
parson.
"The estimates also include item for secur-
ing right of way for the Ell TovarDesert View
Rim road. / hope this expenditure of government
funds will not be necessary, feel that the priv
ate holdings which will be crossed by the pro-
posed road will be sufficiently benefited by it's
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 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 work on the Rim road and other upkeep
work on the other park roads, the present FL
Tovar-Desert View road has been widened,
Strengthened, and reshaped for about one-hali 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 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 wafer
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 125 miles distant Every gallon of
water has to come that distance. The tremendous
daily cost of this is at once apparent and the
which water can be pumped either from the floor
of the canyon about 1 mile below the surface of
the rim, from elsewhere is obvious. 1t is ap.
parent that travel may sometime reach a point
where with the present method of securing water
we will not be able to secure a 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 for
the purchase of it's 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 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 over the administration
of the park was the existence of the many claims
of alleged mineral value. Among these We're the
claims located by Ralph III. 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
tinel Treasure, Peg Leg, Hill Top, Sunfower, Lime
stone, GoldenOla, Ida May, Buttinsky, Cheyenne
Dakotah, Bannock, Apache, Folly, Hermit, Gorge"