The Coconino sun., 1926-01-15
THE GREAT NEED FOR A
BRIDGE ACROSS CANYON

Sentiment may sigh little about
the contamination of another Of ma
ture's unspoiled wonders, but Repre-
sentative Carl Hayden's bill authoriz-
ing bridge over the Grand Canyon
at Marble gorge has. nevertheless been
passed, and there is every reason. to
believe the bridge will soon be con-
structed. For it appears that at. this
point on the Colorado river, although
the gorge is nearly half-a mile deep,
the engineering and construction
problems are not nearly so difficult as
the layman may naturally. have sus-
pected. If the bridge costs only $780,
900, as indicated in the prepared es-
Inmates, and if it can be built in a
few months time, Arizona is pretty
sure to have it soon.
More than that, despite sentimental
objections, Arizona deserves to have
it. A great deal of land suitable for
farming, mineral and resort develop
ment lies on the plateaus of the Grand
Canyon country on both sides of the
river. Even where the land is use
less there is tourist business properly
to be cultivated, and Arizona is MAX
ing bigger and bigger set for tour
lists these days.
But for years the development of
most of this country, especially on the
west side of the river, has been ham
pered by lack of communications.
Thousands of square miles have been
condemned to minimum of popula-
ton because it takes even the neigh
bors from four days to a week to get
back and forth on the most urgent
business, whereas practically no one
besides the neighbors ever, comes at
all.
CAS- it is today" the situation is
described in the New York Times,
"there is scarcely, in all the world, an
other such gigantic barrier as this
great natural wonder of the south
west. Between Green River, Utah,
on the northeast, and Topock, Calf,
on the southwest, the gorge through
which the Colorado river flows is
crossable at only two points-and at
neither of these points are the means
of crossing sufficient for more than
emergency use.
"At present that part of Arizona
lying north of the Grand Canyon is
as remote from the part lying south
of it as if a thousand or more miles
stretched between. Ordinarily, if q
man on the north bank of the Colo
rado river in that state undertakes to
visit neighbor on the south bank
the trip involves travel through sew
eral other states-in order to reach 9
place only few miles away from the
starting point. He can go aroun1
through southern California, or north.
ward through Utah and Colorado
then southwark through New Mexico
and then northward again through
southern Arizona"
| When such state Of affairs car
be removed by the expenditure of {
mere 100000, it would appear unfail
for even the widest enthusiasts 70,
unspoiled natural scenery to demant
/ that the barrier be any longer main
tanned. But, as a matter of fact
there is no reason why the sceni
charms of the canyon country shoult
| be spoiled by bridge. Good archi
! tectural taste, which can be suppliet
for little extra cost on the plan
and in the materials, can produce
\ bridge that would so harmonize Will
! the canyons own proportions at Mar
BILE gorge that it will add to rathe,
| than detract from the canyons fas
! cinations.-El Paso Times.