Arizona state miner., 1925-11-14
NEWS LETTER FROM w. w. BASS

My dear Watson:
l feel little more hopeful for our
future here at present, but was be-
ginning to despair of any hopes for
it's suspended animation since the
loss of the approach to our bridge.
However, it is now open to traffic,
and we hope more substantial
breastwork along the abutment and
shore of the old HaSsayampa at the
place where old Sol's Wash empties
it's mad torrents at prOtracted inter-
walls, will be provided than was there
before. Gunny sacks filled with
rocks and reinforced with chicken
wire does not amount to much as a
protection to the heavy silted floods
of this old treacherous thorofare, as
the ones responsible for their use
should have known, after so many
expensive lessons had here at this
point of contact. If the same author
ity had caused that formidable look
ing pile of rocks and timbers below
the bridge to have been constructed
above the bridge, where the force
of the food would have been check
ed by them, it is quite doubtful if
the extent of damage to the approach
would have required an outlay of an
other span to be added to the bridge,
and the damage to private property
would have been very nominal. AS
it is row, or will be, regardless of
any protection that may be construc-
ted above the abutments, the floods
later will take many yards of very
valuable soil from the privately own
ed land below Let us hope that the
time is not far distant when the in
terests of the individual is respected.
But from past experience here this
is doubtful in the extreme, if one
may judge from what seems to be
another attempt to defy the elements
with the building of cement wall
few inches high and few feet in
length. 1t remains to be seen what
the federal authorities will do when
a permanent abutment is constructed
to support the iron span. Now that
this route has been determined upon
as the best and most feasible one
to the southland, and the construc-
tion of Blythe bridge is assured as
soon as the Arizona highway COM
missiOners concur with those of Cal
ifornia, it is about time that all this
"gingerbread' highway building here
should stop. Cut it out or pay dam
ages for what might properly be
termed compounding ignorance
| made quite an important addition
to my permanent exhibit in the min
ing building at the Fair, and while it
is my first from this part of Arizona
| feel confident it will not be my last,
as I have unbounded confidence in
possibilities for profitable mining in.
vestments in this locality, and am
greatly surprised to find the indiffer-
ence displayed by Wickenburg citizens
when they have such splendid oppor-
tunities to advertise these facts as is
offered at our State Fairs, for but
with one or two exceptions. nothing
was to be found there from this vicin-
ity. A very creditaDle display Of the
products of the rich soil along the
Hassayampa and vicinity could have
been made, no doubt, and with this
object in mind at planting time an
other season big surprise would be
in store for many Arizonans who
never knew about our possibilities in
this line, if properly displayed next
year. Coconino County deserves great
praise for the pains-taking manner in
which their display was presented
and no doubt, will be richly repaid for
the effort. But for one interested in
mining development to miss the op-
portunity to see and know just what
advancement in machinery and ap-
pliances for cheap and efficient treat
ment of ores that has been produced
within the past year and were on
exhibit at our Fair this time is GER
tainly overlooking a great opportun-
ity, if 1 am any judge.
w. w. BASS.