The Coconino sun., 1923-08-10
OH, COME ON, LET'S GO!

Grand Canyon is a better road than the Maine
Grand Canyon road.
Looking at it from scenic point of view this
may be true, but speaking of it from drivers
point of view, the Maine highway, even in it's pow
erty stricken, neglected condition, is the best road
i to Grand Canyon the year around. If one-tenth
of the money that has been spent on either the
i Flagstaff Grand Canyon road or the Williams
Grand Canyon road, could be spent on the Maine
Grand Canyon road, it would be boulevard. Dur
ing heavy rains neither of the three roads are
l good-nor are roads in any part of any country
good unless paved. The Flagstaff-W Williams road
with its cinder surface stands up od-but it cost
in the neighborhood of $4,000 per mile and is be-
ing cared for by men employed permanently for
/ that purpose.
The Maine road, sixty-five miles in length from
Maine to Grand Canyon, has three small bridges
and four or five galvanized iron pipe drains
across it. The improvements were necessary to-
reach the settlers in Spring Valley. The road tol
Spring Valley, some twenty-five miles in length,
must be kept up for the large number of settlers
there. From Spring Valley north to the Grand
Canyon there are no bridges, culverts and prac-
tically no grades or grading done. The total ex-
pense on the road since laid out raw two years
ago, then mostly for the convenience of Spring
Valley farmers, has been about $4,000 all told
practically none at the north end; there has been
nothing done in the way Of repairs and upkeep
yet fully 80 per cent Of Grand Canyon travel has
been over this road and at this writing it is the
best road to travel despite the heavy travel over
it. Even the Flagstaff Williams road would not
stand up two years as good as the Maine road has
If it was absolutely neglected The Maine-Grand
Canyon road is a natural road, but even natur-
al road won't stand the constant wear and tear of
from one to two hundred autos per day. No hon
estly inclined man will advise a tourist that he
can ride over mud road during heavy rains with [
out trouble.
The greater part of the Flagstaff Grand Can
yon road is good Lockwood Canyon would be bad
in wet weather for three or four miles, Entering
the national forest and for ten miles or more to
Grand View is washed rough and rocky because no.
repair work has been done there for two years or
more.
Everyone in Coconino county with any interest
or knowledge of public affairs, must realize the
necessity of concentrating our efforts and money
on system that will eventually give us good
roads-and stick to that system.
Some do not seem to understand just why coun-
ty officials have agreed to turn over the Bright Z
Angel trail at Grand Canyon in exchange for an
appropriation of 100000 to be made by the gov
ernment, which money is to be spent by Coconino .
county in improving the Maine-Grand Canyon 1
road. Some understand and misrepresent, and /
some don't understand.
Congressman Cramton, probably the most in /
fluential man in congress who will have any say
so as to the appropriation of moneys for such
roads, with his party, including Congressman
Hayden, came to a tentative agreement with the
board of supervisors of Coconino county at Grand
Canyon last March.
man Cranlton would do his best to secure an APP
preparation of 100000 to be turned over to Coco
nirlo county in exchange for quit claim deed of
the Bright Angel trail to the government. This
100000 to be expended on the Maine Grand Can
yon road 1t was further understood that since
80 per cent of Coconno county is government
property, the government will maintain the
road and in future appropriations in effect make
it government road, at possible cost of $780,
900 to surface 1T. This agreement was predicat-
ed on past performances of the government on
other national park roads Congressman Cram
ton was frank, in that man could make con-
tracts for congress in advance, but under existing
conditions here he felt that congress would ap-
prove his proposition. In this he was backed up
by Congressman Hayden and others Of the con-
gressional party, after going over all the details
of possible friction as to ownership of the trail If
there was possible trouble as to legal ownership
of the trail, Coconino county only transfers this
along with their possible rights to the United
States.
It is understood since there was some delay in
the board of supervisors putting the proposition
UP to government officials, that 100000 will be
put into this national park budget with proviso
that the sum may be used to purchase the Bright
Angel trail, or for condemnation proceedings, or
to build another trail.
Recent official reports as to net proceeds show
that Coconino county receives between $4,000 and
$5, 900 toll receipts J
This amount OF money would not even pay the
salaries of men necessary to oversee IS miles of
road, much less pay repair costs. Then why not
pass the buck" to the government, get good
road which will pay the freight in tourist travel
The government owns 89 per cent of the county '
Why shouldn't congress play square and take over
a road through and to its own property?
1t may be true, just taking submarine view
of things that certain interests are not 'pit- c
ting" Flagstaff and Williams in battle for their