The Coconino sun., 1925-08-07
JEROME AND FLAGSTAFF RO-
|TARIANS AND BUSINESS MEN
HOLD JOINT MEET THURSDAY.

With an almost perfect attendance
OF the membership of both clubs, the
Rotarians Of the Verde district and
Flagstaff, accompanied by the Rotary
AIMS and a number Of guests, held a
joint meeting Thursday afternoon at
the Lamport ranch on the west fork
of Oak Creek. A. L. Reese was chair
man of the day and he, presented a
particularly fine program dealing Of
course with roads, especially the Oak
Greek highway that is to come some
day, and with the trout that will soon
make Oak Creek the mecca Of the fly
fishermen Of the United States.
s Capt. j. B. Wright of Flagstaff, r.
E. Moore Of Jerome and Field Super
visor Ed Miller talked on the road
situation. Frost L. Benham of Jerome
spoke on the trout and former Gov.
Thomas E. Campbell combined the
two ideas in the splendid closing
speech.
Everybody, speakers and audience
alike, were in absolute agreement on
the fact that there must be a road up
Oak Creek canyon, and this for the
following reasons:
1t is one of the most magnificent
scenic routes in the whole United
States.
1t would advertise Arizona instead
of giving the state black eye as does
the present east and west highway, the
Old Traits, which takes the tourist
through the most unattractive section
of the state.
1t would bring Coconino and Yava-
pal business men closer together and
would aid III a mutual interchange of
products.
1t would serve to detour thousands
of tourists through the north central
portion of the state by giving them
perfect roads to the towns Of the
Verde district, to Prescott, to Globe
and Miami, to Roosevelt and to Phoe-
nix.
Il Finally, it would make accessible
the finest trout stream in the south
west.
The existing road is not a b3ule-
ward by any means, but it is better to-
day than it has ever been and can be
driven in perfect safety from end to
end of the canyon. Coconino county
is to be congratulated on the amount
of excellent work that has been done
with extremely limited funds.
Capt. J. B. Wright, who knows and
loves every inch of the canyon, spoke
with real eioQuence on the necessity
for the road and with real sadness on
the inability Of Coconino county to
shoulder the burden, which, he sad,
should be borne by the state at large
because the canyon, when once made
accessible. will become playground
for everybody in the state. He told
Of the scanty funds available and of
how they had been stretched and
to secure the results that
nave been attained. He was given an
ovation when he concluded his really
tine talk.
r. E. Moore gave a succinct and in
.eresting account of the road work
hat has been done in Yavapai county,
including the excellent highway to
Sedona, beyond which point of course,
10 county road funds could be applied.
lie spoke also of the Shame" it is
hat so wonderful country as the
anyon can not be made accessible by
proper roads and suggested that it |
night be advisable to send a represent
ative to Washington to cooperate
With the states congressional delega-
ion to secure federal and forest aid.
Forest Supervisor Ed Miller, who |
las charge of the vast Coconino ma
ional forest, told plainly why forest
unds can not be devoted to Oak Creek |
It this time. He showed that every |
penny of revenue has been appro-
,riated for some years to come and
hat, without special action by the de-
,artment. nothing of moment can be
lone on the highway at this time.
Mr.. Miller believes in the Oak |
1reek road and wants to see it i'm
'roved, but the forest fees are lower
d by reason of the remission of graz
ng fees and there are no funds that |
an be made available except by spa-
ial action lat Washington His |
straightforward exposition of the
acts was heard with close attention
nd the applause that followed his adj
ress showed that he had convinced
is audience that he spoke nothing
ut the plain truth.