The Coconino sun., 1924-10-31

had absolutely refused his request to
interest themselves in opposition to
two attempts made by U. S. Senator
Ralph Cameron to get control of the
trail. In the first of these attempts
Cameron wanted to lease the trail for
five years for S1875.24 year. Mr..
Gold was then county attorney and
hastened to Mr.. Wilson to get his aid
in1opposing Cameron's plan, which
was finally foiled by getting Ed Ham
ilton to make counter offer of $4,000
a year. In Cameron's next attempt to
get the trail, the contract proposed by
Cameron recited that half of the trail
belonged to the county, the other half
to S. Il. Querioz, and he tried to get
the county's half for the magnificent
sum of S5. This time a lot of local
citizens were brought before the board
Of supervisors to put their influence
against Cameron, and their influence
prevailed with the board
Regarding collection of taxes in the
park, Mr.. Wilson showed that Fred
Harvey. plans extensive improvements
there and taxes to this county will
thereby be greatly increased. The
Santa Ee and Harvey systems always
have and always will have to pay
taxes there.
Mr.. Wilson covered the point that
when the trail is sold the government
will charge to enter the park. The
nothing whatever to do with its
1t always has had the right to
oI,c = nh
In some parks they have done so, be-
cause no appropriations could be got
from congress to build roads within
the parks and the only way they could
get the money to build the many hum
dreds of miles of roads necessary was
to charge an entrance fee. But, at
Grand Canyon, if the government gets
Che trail the trail toll will be elimin-
ated.
He showed the fallacy of the claim
that Kolb brothers will be put out of
the park in case the government gets
the trail. Kolb brothers are a tre-
mendous asset to the park and the
Harvey and park managements both
advise visitors to visit the Kolb studio.
The statement that Uncle Sam is
trying to "browbeat'' this county into
selling the trail Mr.. Wilson showed
up by reciting the facts, which are
that the proposition to sell originated
with the people of this county and
was advocated years ago by Super
visors Voolfolk, Hart and Caring.
The statement that in the trail Che
people of this county have wonder
full asset, was exploded by Mr.. Wilson
who showed that the average net in
come from it to the county in the
last six years has been only $3100 /!
year. Now we are offered for it
road to cost from $500,000 to $780,
600 to build and its permanent main
tenance.
We we're asleep when the railroad
to Grand Canyon was captured by
Williams when Flagstaff had the first
opportunity to get it, Mr.. Wilson de-
clared He said it is now time for tie
people of Flagstaff to come awake
and not let Williams also have the
one and only auto road to Grand Can
yon.
Mr.. Colds contention that the coun-
ty is not liable for damages of per-
sons injured at Bright Angel trail
was refuted by Mr.. Wilson's asser-
tion that the county undoubtedly
would be liable inasmuch as we charge
a toll and therefore are in business
there.
The reason why the government will
build another trail if it doesn't buy
Bright Angel is because at the upper
part Bright Angel is icy and most
unsafe in winter, Mr.. Wilson said;
while the proposed new route is sun
lighted throughout the year.
Mr. Wilson read to the audience the
purchase agreement offered by Uncle
Sam. He asked Mr.. Gold to do the
reading. The latter refused. This
agreement specifically provides that
the road to be built by the government
shall leave the Old Trails at point
designated by the supervisors of thi
county.
One of Mr.. Colds contentious was
that the supervisors of this county did
not advise the people of their inten-
tions before offering the trail for sale,
ignoring the fact that for months be-
fore the supervisors decided to sell
the trail the fullest publicity had
been given to it in the columns of
The Sun.