The Coconino sun., 1924-09-19
COCONINO COUNTY ONLY WANTS SQUARE
DEAL


The board of supervisors definitely decided to
sell the Bright Angel Trail at Grand Canyon to
the government at it's meeting last Friday Chair
man RittenhouSe voted against the trade with SUI
pervisors Bob Taylor and John 10y voting for it,
We most emphaticay believe they are represent
ing the very best interests of the whole county
and as soon as the trade is definitely settled the
whole people will begin to get profitable return.
Not only will the people be assured that our tour
ist travel is protected but they depend on it's
rapid growth from year to year. The county will
be relieved of the financial burden of keeping up
the road as well the constant complaints OF
tourists over the condition of roads to the Can
yon. The complaints of tourists will lodge with
congress and help stimulate congress in making
additional appropriations when necessary.
Then comes select bunch of objectors to the
sale of the trail who are against it mainly on the
grounds that they are against it. They claim the
board of supervisors has right to sell 1t. OF
course the law plainly states it has right to sell
the trail and specifically points out how it can be
done
Others claim it can not be sold without a vote
of the people. More ignorance. The law does not
even suggest such an action. Might we'll call an
election to decide whether the board of supervisors
might sell an old wheelbarrow. The powers of the
board are clearly defined.
Again the objectors talk of an injunction suit
against the board. 1t is possible that such suit
could be brought. 1t isn't very difficult to start
law suit of any old kind no matter how dead
wrong the fellow may be who starts it, but the
board of supervisors could and would be of little
use if it stopped all work because of threats
of suits against it.
Again it is claimed the board of supervisors can
not give clear title to the trail The government
of the United States recognized the countys
ownership of the trail in the enabling act when
Arizona became state and the county has had
peaceable possession of the trail for over twelve
years. Ten years peaceable possession is all the
aW reOuireS TO establish title to it.
This same small coterie of objectors for person
al reasons have endeavored to convince some
whom they believe have little intelligence and no
knowledge of law, that the sale of the trail will
bust all laws federal and state and that the gov
ernment will thus be turned loose hogwild to prey
on the public, raise prices and raise hades general
y.
There will be only one change made as result
of the SALE No $100 toll fee will be collected on
the trail. The government now has all the author
ty it would have if the trail is sold and no more
In other words the government has sole authority
over all charges now except the $1.00 toll charged
by the county. What the government is doing now
or may hereafter do, has absolutely nothing to do
with the trail whether CocOnino county sells it or
not. Everyone knows this statement to be an alb
soute fact-that is if they want to know the
truth.
The vast number of suggestions as to how
100000 could be spent other than where it would
do the most good, if got it in cash, does not ap
peal to men with good business sense. Putting it
on the Old Trails Highway" idea busted when the
benighted objectors found that the government
and state with other county funds, had carried
out previous plans and were spending some $685.
900 that project Now they still want it in cash
to spend on other roads, any old road any old
place, but not on road to Grand Conyon-that
might be of general benefit and relieve the tax
payer of big burden. No, stree! conclude these
objectors, who insist that it makes a great ma
teral difference as to which pocket the taxpayers
money comes out Of Putting $500,000 on road
we need most is bad business; let's find some 9TH
er way than the right way, then we can sit down
and yowl about the way the government is treat
ing u.s."
Of course it is expected that all the objections
possible will be thrown in the way of the sale of
the trail until the trade is finally completed, but
we are constrained to believe the progressive
thinking people of the county are going to back
up the supervisors to the limit regardless of per-
sonal considerations They propose to give Coco
nino county square deal.