Arizona republican., 1922-02-03
APPROVES NEW
ROADPROJECTS
IN THIS STATE
Federal Engineer Gives
Affirmation To Plans
For Several Highways
To Be Constructed Soon

DR.. L. I. Hewes. deputy chief en-
gineer of the bureau of public roads,
is making a hasty inspection trip
through district Is and will spend
few days in Phoenix. He arrived
yesterday accompanied by his assist
ont, J. S. Bright, and District Ecgin-
eer e. S. Wheeler, of Albuquerque. :
Several new project statements
which have been presented recently
to the local representatives of the
bureau were taken up yesterday, ex-
amined and approved by DR.. Hewes.
Project No. 81. which will connect
with No. SO at Glendale and end at
Marinette. was acted upon favorably
This project will be rs miles long
and is estimated at about quarter
of a million dollars. 1t will be an
1S-foot pavement, either Of cement
concrete or bituminous concrete.
Originally the project was submitted
as a 16-foot pavement but in view
of the fact that the new federal high
way law requires an ultimate surface
of is feet the project was revised so
as to be eligible from every stand
point. 1t will be on the proposed Z
per cent system for the state, Is re-
quired under the new law.
Another section of the Phoenix
Ash Fork connection will be covered
by project connecting between the
folks above Prescott and Ash Fork.
This project will be approximately So
miles in length and will probably cost
half million dollars. This project
will be gravel surfaced and be on the
| Z per cent system.
Additional projects viii be submit
ted at an early date to cover the re-
naming unimproved section between
| Marinette and Prescott, and within a
| reasonably short time servicabie
| highway between the northern and
| southern parts of the state will be
| realized.
When inquiry was made as to the
| distribution or allotment of funds
provided by the new law for roads in
| adjoining or adjacent to the national
| forests DR.. Hewes stated that the
/ matter as to how these funds were to
| be handled or administered was now
| before the secretary of agriculture
| and that nothing definite could be
! said at this time. The secretary has
| been engaged with many other mat
| ters having priority, but it is ex-
| pected that definite responsibility
will be decided upon during Feb
ruary.
While many worthy projects lying
| in the forests and still on the z per
cent system are being urged by local
and county authorities, nothing may
| be done until the secretary of agri-
culture has decided which branch or
| bureau of his department shall adr
| minister the funds. 1t Is fully ex-
| pected that the secretary will desi-
| gnate the bureau of public roads as
| his representative and as soon as
| this one important feature Is set
| tied. a program will be drawn and
| projects considered on their respect
! i've merits in connection with their
| articulation with the per cent sys-
| tenn, local interests. territory served
| and value of products to be handled
| Mr.. Wheeler in explanation OF the
! z per cent system" said that 1t had
| bearing on Z per cent of the total
| mileage Of roads within the state al
| the time of the passage of the federal
highway act. Since the legal mile
4 age in the state of Arizona was at
| that time 20,400 miles. the per cent
system will be 1923 miles. Upon this
| mileage all federal aid now available
or to become available must be ex-
| pended. No addition to this mileage
may be made until the same shall
have been completed. This mileage
| is sufficient to provide all intercoun-
| ty and interstate connections as the
| state is now divided. it is stated.