Weekly journal-miner., 1922-01-25
HIGHWAY MEETING OF (, OF (. E FAR FROM BEING 4 DQGFlGHH
(From Fridays Daily)

Words of argument and advice spoken in a general meeting of rep resentative men are of more value to the highway commission than any hard-cut resolutions. That idea, most nearly expressed in fast nights cham Der of commerce road meeting by H. Dewitt Smith of Jerome, prevail cd when it came to vote on high way designations, and by virtually a unanimous vote, the chamber of commerce expressed confidence in the highway commission. This vote followed a vote to rescind previous preferential endorsement of the Black Canyon over the Wickenburg south route.
 The action of the chamber of com nlerce, the declaration of the highway commission that it would not dodge any instructions in the bond election and the unqualified endorsement of the Yarnell route by the American Association of Engineers chapters here and at Clarkdale, were the out standing facts of the meeting.
 There would be no further report of the roads committee, MT. Tally, its chairman, said in stafting the dis cussion. However, for the benefit of new members, he would rehearse some of the items. He did so, going over the considerations that led to the Yarnell investigation, and the conclusion reached by. the highway engineers and the eofnrhittee that the route was feasible andl desirable.
 Mir. Moore,,''tHt , qhsMha4 of the commission, then assured ike meet ing that any notion (and it had been circulated that there was sueh) any idea whatever, that bond money would be spent outside the reserva- ton, as it were, was peculiarly false, No transfer of bond money was either contemplated or possible. The commission was going to do its work in accordance with the rules laid down.
 There can be no talk of resolutions or memorials swaying the highway commission said H. Dewitt Smith of Jerome. If any effect came, of meetings, like the present one, it was confined to giving the engineer and commission new ideas.
 On any given proposition, the com mission and the chamber of com merce might and probably could and would disagree. The fireworks would all be set off and then the commis- sion and engineer would be uncon- vineed on all main points. But out of the argument, they would obtain an understanding of the popular mind, which would be of undoubted value of them.
 Hence Mr. Smith, whose talk was freighted with much sense, was not opposed to discussions of this sort.
 Not the engineering but the econo mic aspect of the highway commis- sion's conduct was questioned by MT. Colvocoresses. It is not case, he said, of connecting two great cities like New York and Philsdel- phia, but of expending the money for the benefit of the communities between. He would cite figures to show. the comparisons he hoped to impress on the meeting.
 From an engineering. an csthetic and building material standpoint, the Yarneil route is fine, Mir. Colvo- coresses admitted. The honesty of the commission was not for mo-. ment in question. But this is not an engineering problem.
 He recapitulatcd. There is $30S,- 900 bond issue money for the Black Canyon. There is $4oOOOO or more for PFescott,Ash Fork For a north and south highway, the government will give $4Oo.OOO It is proposed to put Sl00.0OO of the government money with the Prescott-Ash Fork fund and apply the other S3OO,0O0 on new route. a
 As to the manner in which the two routes loom up: The Agua Fria val ley has 2,500 people The Hassa- yampa less than 500 if the road goes into Congress Junction and practi- cally none if it passes that spot up.
 There is virtually no mine produc- ton along the new road site; the Black Canyon has produced $15,OGO.- GOO i'll gross ore value in the past de- cadc.
 The Black Canyon distance be. tween Prescott and Phoenix is lO6 miles and the Yarnell distance is ll6 miles. For the Agua Fria people, the average distance to Phoenix is 50 miles shorter that way; for the m