Arizona republican., 1921-11-20
AJO TURNSDOWN
 ISSUE FUR
 ROAD

There seems to be considerable confusion existing in Pima county concerning the proposed road bond issue of $250,0 ,000 for the he@improvement of the Tucson Yuma highway. The latest reports would indicate that Ajo has turned the issue down on various grounds. At a meeting of the Ajo chamber of commerce last week, a telegram was read quoting Super visor Baker to the effect that the sending of motorists 70 California by way of Ajo was a mistake. The tele- gram further stated that motorists would hereafter be routed to Cali fornia by way of Phoenix.
 That this will come as a surprise to Phoenicians is certain. It will be the first time in history that any motorist passing through Tucson las Phoenix, according to most of the information available. It was pointed out at the Ajo meeting that with the completion of the Phoenix, Buckeye, Gila Bend highway, Ajo would have only 15 miles of highway to build to connect with it, and that federal aid would provide one-half of the amount necessary.
 The Tucson chapter of the Ameri- can Association of Engineers went on record in Tucson few days ago favoring the plan and asking the su- pervisors of Pima county to call an election to decide whether Or not Tucson should have a direct highway to the c6ast. The fact that the Southern California Automobile club would center it's publicity on the first road completed was urged as a rea- | l to com 2letion. If this is the case. the people of southern Arizona will be 1 treated to the pleasant sight of be- 1 holding the signs of the southern California club upon their highways. which will indeed be a wonderful | boost for the Ariona towns in the eyes of the cross country tourists. These signs already dot the Old Trails 1 from Needles to Springerville and one would think there existed no other automobile organization in the | Southwest. As to the accuracy of the signs, there are several in the vicinity | of Canon Diablo on the Flagstaff Winslow road which, although several miles apart, all contain the same
 mileage figures to Winslow and Flag staff However, the name of the
 Automobile Club of Southern Call fornia Is the important thing to bring out and this has been done wherever l possible.
 Although the Automobile Club of Ariona is a young organization 1t is nevertheless live aggregation of
 boosters, and it is to be hoped that
 sufficient interest will be aroused during the coming winter to post our | roads with Arizona signs, steering a few of the tourists into our own
 cities and towns instead of straight
 on through to Los Angeles. What is needed more than anything else is a
 get together spirit among the cities and towns of Arizona There exists
 no reason why Tucson and Phoenix should not pull together. There are Ienough broad minded automobile men in both communities to put big things over but nothing will be accomp-
 lished by means of petty jealousies Tourists coming from the East by
 way of Tucson could be routed 1 through Phoenix just as easily and
 with more good grace than by send
 ing them across the long, blank stretch to Ajo and thence to Yuma. Likewise, people returning to the
 East by way of Phoenix can be
 routed through Tucson and the
 southeastern part of the state. No body of men divided among them
 selves ever accomplished anything
 and it is to be hoped that all this
 tom foolery that has existed betweer Tucson and Phoenix for the past steer
 years be put aside and common-sensC
 used in its place. The new Automo-
 bile Club of Arizona is bound to ac
 in a most salutary manner to brine
 this about and if nothing else were
 accomplished by this organization i
 would well be worth It's cost