Imperial Valley press., 1923-02-19
BARD DISTRICT
PROPOSES new
| HIGHWAY ROU TIE
Colby Tells Commission
of Needs of Bard in
Y Yuma Road

~
BARD, Feb. 19.-The visit, OF
tuesday, of the State Highway
commission, together with the board
I supervisors and various other dc
agates, interested in the highway
etween HOltville and Yuma, was
eneficial to all and especially to
he Bard district as it gave the
bad foreman, S. NJ. Colby, an op-
ortunity to explain the situation
'om his point of view.
As soon as Mr.. Colby was ap-
ointed last fall he began to look
to- the matter of the highway and
,und that the problem of building
toad through an Indian Reserva-
ION requires more attention to de-
I'll than most people imagine, ow
g to the fact that it is land set
part by the government for the
&c of the Indians and unless a
ght of way is obtained from the
,deral government, any Indian
hose land borders on the road
puld build fence across it if he
desired. Each step to be taken
specified by law and forms sup
Med, the first one being n re-
hest by the county board of super
sors.
5000 in District
The people of the Bard district,
lmbering approximately 5000 good
val citizens of California, could
Q no reason why, if a highway was
be built, it should not be routed
such n way as to serve the local
affic as well as the interstate
affice if this could be done with
It materially increasing the dis
nee or the expense. 1t also SEEM
right for them to have easy ac-
IS TO the highway as they are
pw almost shut off from the coun-
seat, and the overland route is
e only way they have of reaching
Centre unless out of the state
id by train.
Mr.. Colby learned that years be-
re this part of the state was set
ID right of way had been OBJ
ined, but that owing to changed
nditions this route was no long
practical. That later a prelimi-
Try survey had been made which
d not follow the right of way.
lis survey would have the road
through low swampy lands in
attempt to utilize the old road
Il of the Southern Pacific which
d been abandoned because it was
Epossible to keep it in repair, and
n outside of the levees built by
e reclamation service for some
ing over a mile where the high
by would be menaced by high
hter and consequently very ex-
nsive for upkeep. The highwater
ming at time when the trans
influential traffic would be the
aviest.
Over Indian Hill
The new routing requested by Mr..
slby, representing the Bard Dis
let, would have. the road run ~
les due north from the Ocean to
iean highway bridge and then due
Est to an intersection with the
esent Yuma-Holtville road. This
build bring it directly across In
an Hill, eliminating a very dan
rOus railroad grade crossing and
siyg the traveller going east a
autiful view Of Arizona and those
ing west a splendid view of this
rt of California. 1t would also
We much easier straight line
rough the cultivated lands of
is district giving the traveller a
lch pleasanter impression when
tering California and shorten the
stance to the county seat about
rec miles.
Districts Get Together
Mr.. Colby, with the help of L. L.
lie, the Indian Agent, had OBJ
med the necessary blanks and
d had the board of supervisors
quest a new right of way. He
d received some opposition in
, work from the Yuma Chamber
Commerce for it was feared that
change the route would delay
alters. On Tuesday everybody
I together and learned that as
lg as right of way which is
w practical had never been OBJ
med, he had really expedited mat !
IS, and everybody was well pleas !
Another thing to be considered |
that the Luguna Dam is one of
it{ great engineering feats of our
antry which is of interest to
cry citizen of the United States.
money values it, together with
improved land here, represents
lions of dollars. 1t is the in
ntion of the people here to build
macadamized road from the near
{ point of the highway to the
.guna dam, and this new route
build make it one and q half miles
arer and thereby save this dis
1T several thousand dollars and
| t increase the cost to the high
| by commission.