The Coconino sun., 1924-06-20
CoCoNINo's MOST VITAL QUESTION

COCONINO'S MOST VITAL QUESTION
We are very much inclined to believe that a
number of people in Williams take wrong view
of the proposed sale of Bright Angel trail to the
government and the building of the main road to
Grand Canyon. Naturally objection would be ex-
pected if it could be shown that the interests OF
Williams were adversely affected. 1t lis exceed
ingly difficult to please all in road building.
It would be difficult to show just where Will
Jams would be in any way the loser by reason OF
a great highway leading from Maine to Grand
Canyon built by the government 1t would be a
great saving to all the taxpayers Of the county.
Travel would be increased with no possible chance
of any being diverted from Williams.
We speak. Of Williams instead of saying the
west end of the county is objecting to the trade,
for to our knowledge petition has been circu-
lated at Garland Prairie Spring Valley, Pitman
Valley also covering very large portion of SUI
pervisoral district No. g. outside Williams, in
which the petitioners are complaining that road
money in that district has been mostly spent on
the Williams Grand Canyon road to the exclusion
of other roads and for that reason are asking that
the Maine-G Grand Canyon road and some of its
connecting roads be included in supervisoral dis
trct No. !.
1t is understood that all road monies last year
were divided into three equal parts in the three
districts without considering the number of miles
of roads each district had to care for In fairness
to ALL the road money should be divided according
to road mileage, taking into consideration new
road projects that have been agreed upon.
When the Mane-Grand Canyon road is complet-
ed, Flagstaff and Williams could complete other
connecting roads through ranching districts which
would be of direct benefit to those settlements
and general benefit to the county. 1t would
lessen the cost to taxpayers and in no way affect
either town except beneficay.
Eventually the government will own it's own
no mol.
icy of the government to own all lands within q
national park. 1t may not come about this year
or next year, but the government does own and
control all other great national parks. Newer
ones recently established may not as yet come
completely under control.
The situation confronting the people of Coco
nino county is "Shall the people of the county ac-
cept 100000 with which to construct the Maine
Grand Canyon road, with the avowed intention OF
Congressman Cranton and other congressman tO
secure additional government appropriations in
several times the amount for future use in build
ing and maintaining it? Or
"Shall the people of Coconino refuse the offer
and permit the secretary Of the interior to either
build new trail for the government or institute
condemnation proceedings and take the trail at
half the amount now offered? 2"
If the liberal offer made by practically the
unanimous consent of congress is refused, Coco
nino county can GO on paying increasing taxes to
MAINTAIN fOdQS WITHOUT congressional ala, VIII
eventually lose the trail or the trail viii lose its
value by means of new trail.
Aside from losing the good will of congress, we
are passing up the great advantage afforded
through the good will of the travelling public, the
increase of which is of-vast Importance to every
resident of the county, either directly indirect
". We should not at this time cut off our own
nose to spite our own face A larger vision is
necessary.
There is great activity on the north side OF
Grand Canyon and it will not be long before the
north side is going to be a keen competitor with
The south side, which is now nationally known as
5he easiest and best way to reach this worldwide
scenic wonder.
The Sun has no personal fight on in the matter
1t will only be directly benefited as the county
grows and prospers.
The question is most vital one to the people
in all sections of the county and is not in any
way sectional one.
Shall we by our foresight profit now or refuse
any pay for it in money and regrets?
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