The Coconino sun., 1923-02-16
ASK THAT OAK CREEK
ROAD BE CONTINUED
Continued from Page One.)

this "seven per cent system" means,
was explained to the meeting by Cap
tain ]. B. Wright and Rev. Fir. G.
Vabre.
When the government perfected its
plans for federal aid for road build
ing it required of each state engineer
statement of the total mileage OF
all the roads in his state. This state
reported over 10000 miles and this
county 1870 miles. The government
ruled that seven per cent of the mile
age in each state could receive federal
aid. This state, therefore, was grant
ed such aid for over 1400 miles. State
Engineer Maddox decided what roads
should be comprised in the 1400 miles.
Once roads were listed in the z per
cent, no additional road can be TAX
en- in for federal aid until all of the
roads included at that time shall have
been completed. Hence, though this
county three years ago voted $4,000
bonds for the Oak Creek highway, to
be matched by federal aid Maddox
did not include that highway in the
seven per cent system, and though we
are paying interest on the S25,OOO 1t
cannot be released until such time as
the highway is taken into the seven
per cent system and our money match
with government money.
Captain Wright and Forest Super
visor Miller stated that there is a
gentleman's agreement with the bu-
reau of public roads that any money
this county may spend on the Oak
Creek highway along the line of sur
vey approved by. the bureau, we will
be given credit for when the time
comes for granting federal or forest
aid on that highway.
1t was brought out that while the
original estimate for building the
% miles of Oak Creek highway from
Oak Creek to the Yavapai Co. line
was $250,000, Mr.. Wheeler OF the bu-
reau of public roads now estimates 1t
will cost $800,000.
Captain Wright said that Mr..
Wheeler is now figuring on an Is to
20-foot road. He said that the wise
thing is to build along the route sur
veyed and approved by the bureau OF
public roads engineers, who are now
making the survey, but building only
a 10 to 12-foot road, with numerous
passing places. Then eventually,
when the wider highway is built,
which will have to be with steam
shovels, the road we build now can
be used as a track for the shovels.
In that way we won't waste cent
of money and can soon, with county
funds now on hand, open up the worst
place below the falls and make 1t
Il oI air 4113G1Tr rrn
from here to the Yavapai county line
There are % miles Of dangerous road
below the falls on which the county
is now working, that it will cost about
$4,000 to build When this is built,
the road can be used throughout its
entire length. As soon as that is fin-
ished, he said, hundreds of autos will
pass through there every week, both
because of the scenic beauty of the
road and because it cuts off so miles
for the people of Prescott, Jerome
and Phoenix who then will come up
here to spend their week-ends. Ev-
eryone using the road, he said, Will
advertise it and we soon will have
public opinion from all over the state
backing US in our effort to get the
government aid to perfect it.
Last fall the supervisors of this
county appropriated $4,000 for the
government survey, which government
engineers began the other day. Then,
later, out of the $4,000 old railroad
bond money recently refunded this
county by the state, $4,000 was ap-
propriated to the Oak Creek road,
$4,000 on behalf of each supervisor
living in this end of the county,
Messrs. 10y and Taylor. Mr.. Ritten-
house got $4,000 for his end Of the
county for the Williams-Red Lake
road.
The salient facts brought out at
last nights meeting then, were: We
can't get federal aid for the road now;
there is little likelihood of getting
forest aid, at least for some time; the
road can be made usable throughout
it's entire length by eliminating the
dangerous stretch Of little more than
two miles below the Oak Creek falls;
there is money enough on hand to
build that stretch; the board OF super
visors had until few days supposed
we would get forest aid to build the
road and so had started work on it
and now wanted to know whether to
finish building the bad stretch below
the falls.
A motion by Del Strong that if the
supervisors are certain where the line
is that is approved by the bureau of
public roads, or if not, then as soon
as they shall become certain, they
shall keep on with the building
through the bad part below the falls,
was carried, by rising vote, practically
unanimously, as was c. B. Wilson's
motion, made a moment later, that the
road so built be only wide enough for
one vehicle, with frequent passing
places, and that no building be done
except on the route approved by the
bureau Of public roads.
Among those taking part in the dis
cussion other than those named above:
w. G. Rittenhouse, chairman of super
visors; P. j. Moran, Mr.. Taylor, j. p.
Wilson, Fred Browning, secretary OF
the chamber of commerce; John
Weatherford, T. A. Stahl, Herbert
Rabbitt, George Black, Jr., and Arthur
A, Foster. -