Arizona republican., 1922-04-27
Proaress Reains

ASSt ~SS 6E9hNS
While the road program of Arizona
dates from the enactment Of the law
Just mentioned, not much progress
was made towards its actual consun-
nation until a number of years later.
incidentally | notice that the United
States Good Roads association was
chartered April 25, 1913. indicating
the first organized effort to further
the cause of good roads. This associ-
alton has been an inspiration, the
motiyating force which has given
such powerful iinpetus to the move
ment and which has done more than
any other one agency for the success
of the crusade. As evidence that but
little was done in the way of high
way construction in Arizona for 4
number OF years IL is only necessary
to cite the fact that the expenditures
for this purpose amounted to only
$3.50, 272.80 for the three year period
Of July /, 1909 to June 80, 1912. In
the fiscal year 1912-19I3 the amount
was but $139,920.97.
Evidently. the realization dawned
on the people of Arizona in 1913. that
without highways there could be no
substantial progress, for the road ap-
preparation for the next fiscal year
was SSlS,444.04 the succeeding year
x45O,3S5.40; the next annum $435.-
S6S.S9. until in 1918 It amounted to
$s11. 1.725.42, a total OF ss.252. 17a.s7 for
q period OF nine years. Three and 3
quarter million dollars Is a consider
able sum of money, yet when
stretched out over a term Of years
does not make much of a showing in
a country like this. where conrtrur-
ton work in the main is difficult and
expensive.
First Criticism
AS emphasizing this point I can.
without trouble, recall the universal
criticism when I took office on Jan.
s, 1919, that road work had not been
and was not being done in a sys-
tematic manner; that highway prof
ects We're isolated began nowhere
and ended nowhere. Therefore as
late as 1919 il was patent that sur
nclent work had not been done to
convince the public that a system OF
state highways existed. or effort was
being made to connect up the links
IN the system. Yet definite plan
had been adopted years before, con-
temporaneous almost with the crea-
tion of the office of territorial en-
gineer in 1909 1t embraced high
way across Northern Arizona, known
as The Old Trails highway; road
known as the Banlxhead highway. a
road from phoenix TO the New Mex.
leo line by way OF Superior Miami.
Globe, Stafford. Clifton and Duncan.
road from Tucson to Nogales, Oh
the Mexican border; a road from Mo-
gales to Fairbanks, joining the
Bankhead highway; a road from
Phoenix to Prescott and Ash Fork
Joining the<Old Trails highway AMI
connecting the northern and southern
systems; and road from Prescott To
Jerome. With but few exceptions
all the work done by the territorial
and state highway departments has
been on this system. The exceptions
have been in the instance where sec
tional influence was sufficiently po-
tent through trading and other de-
vices to secure appropriations from
The legislature. In order that tiie
statement of the situation in jan
uary, 1919, shah not emanato from
me. | am quoting from an article
written by T. n. Holmquist, assistant
state engineer, who says:
Work Commences
The advent of the present admin
istration found small camp at
tempting to start construction in
Yaeger Canyon on the Prescott
that nothing could be done An out
fit was just beginning TO lay con-
crete on the paving between Phoenix
and Tempe and haa already spent
$4,000 and laid 1900 square yards Of
pavement. A camp was at work OH
the Mesa Superior highway and had
completed about five miles of high
way. A prison camp was at work un
the Clifton Solomonville highway. A
bridge crew was just completing an
extension to the Antelope Hill bridge
across the Gila river near Wellton.
Ariz., a portion of which has since
washed out Construction had also
been completed on the bridge across
the Santa Cruz river at Continental.
Funds were almost exhausted, but it
developed that during the closing
days of the preceding administration
the department had purchased for
delivery after the first Of the year
about $4,000 worth OF corrugated
iron culyerts, a grading outfit at a
price of about $40 600 and nunier
Gus other articles to be paid for by
the incoming administration"
Federal aid made available BY the
postoffice appropriation bill Of March
1919. together with the balance avail
able from preceding appropriations,
amounted to approximately $S,700,000.
State funds in sight to match this
after allowing for maintenance. sur
veys, preparing plans. general office
expenses. etc. amounted to less than
81. 500, 900. Also the legislature adj
journed after the federal aid appro-
priation had been made
"It was apparent. therefore. that
additional funds must be secured il
Arizona was to secure its full APP
portionment of federal aid. With this
in view the counties We're asked to
CO. operate and most of them re-
sponded, although bond issues were
necessary in practically all cases.
AT that time the department was
organized to handle about S1,000,00O
worth of work annually but with the
advent of federal aid in large
amounts, it was necessary TO enlarge