The Coconino sun., 1925-03-20
If HE CAN REACH THE
BLYTHE BRIDGE THE
FROG CAN HOP OVER 1T


In an extension of remarks in the
appendix to the Congressional Record
for March 10 of Congressman Hay
den OF Arizona is printed the major
part of the testimony before the house
committee on interstate commerce or
! the bill introduced by Senator Short
ridge of California granting the con
sent of congress for the construction
of bridge across the Colorado river
near Blythe.
The enactment of this bill, as
amended, establishes an important
precedent for the protection. of the
states by eliminating from considera-
/ tion all intangible values whenever
such bridges are purchased.
! In the scourse of the hearing the
congressman f1om Arizona sa d:
/ Mr.. Hayden: / received a telegram
from my good friend Dick Wick Hall,
who writes for the Saturday Evening
Post, and who lives at Salome, "whare
she danced, in which he says:
/ "Give the frog a chance; he is 7
years old and can't swim; neither can
|. How do you expect us to get across
i the Colorado river if you don't let
Harrington build that toll bridge at
Blythe1 Have heart, cid man, and
do something for US poor devils out
in the desert. Yours until the frog
learns to swim"
10 which / replied, IF the fog can
not have a pavement to hop on to
Blythe, what is the use for bridge
when he gets there"
4 | am convinced that the Harringt On
Bridge company realizes that they are
not going to have the benefit OF a
tremendous amount of traffic immed-
lately, nor will they secure a good re-
turn on their investment until this
road is improved But they do know
that it is in the line of highway devel-
opment and that when the improve
ment is undertaken there viii be moth
ing left for the states of Arizona and
California to do but to buy the bridge.
At the conclusion of his statement
to the committee, Mr.. Hayden sum-
med up the argument as follows:
You have under consideration a
particular situation which is typical
Of what is taking place al over the
United States by reason of the large
appropriations for federal aid and tnc
similar state appropriations used IN
the construction of system OF I'M
proved roads. Wise and astute busl-
ness men engaged in the bridge build
ing business are seeking strategic To-
cations in order that their companies
may have the profits from building
bridges and selling them to the states
when the appropriate time comes.
must urge upon you that under such
circumstances this bill be amended tc
take care of that situation, and merely
/ because it has not been done before
is no reason why it should not be
done now.
You have the testimony of the chief
OF the office of public roads that
proper safeguards are necessary.
insist that congress act now, at this
time. | shall be perfectly willing tc
approve of any amendment to this
bill that the committee and the CHIEF
Of the office of public roads may
! agree upon, because | know that ne
understands the situation. Without
II it / can not, in justice to the taxpay,
ers of mv state, consent to the pas
sage of tie bill. | want the condl
tions of that purchase to be fixed II
this legislation; that is all that ask
Day dreaming is great stuff if yot
) don't weaken.
Most anybody's favorite colors are
old gold and long green.