The Coconino sun., 1927-11-18
u. S. BUREAU OF PUBLIC
ROADS OFFICIAL AGREES
TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION

- lhdJ the lower i've miles or so
of highway in Oak Greek Canyon
will be built by the u. S. bureau
of public roads from forest funds
was learned Wednesday in direct
word from State Engineer w. C.
Lefebvre to Major j. b. Wright
of Flagstaff, county engineer.
1t was to secure government funds
for this much-needed highway that
delegations from this county and
Yavapai county went to Phoenix last
week, to appear at the annual meet
ing on Thursday of the state engineer
and officials of the bureau Of public
roads and forest service.
While the officials, who allot funds
at these annual meetings, did not give
the combined delegation any definite
assurances at the meeting, Mr.. Le-
febvre informed Major Wright We'd
nesday that the order for applying
100000 to the Oak Greek Canyon
highway had since been signed by G.
H. Sweetzer of San Francisco, south
western district engineer for the u.
S. bureau Of public roads.
Those present at the conference in
Phoenix last week were: From Flag
staff, Supervisor Jos. J. Waldhaus,
Major Wright, Frank Goodman, city
engineer, "Howdy" Jackson, secretary
Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Dan
Hogan, Bert Cameron and Del Strong;
from Williams, Supervisor James Ken
nedy; from Yavapai county, Super
visors Bob Moore and l.. H. Haselfeld,
State Highway Commissioner Floyd
Williams, R. K Duffy Of Clarkdale,
County Engineer r. l.. Merritt.
The government officials were C. H.
Sweetser, Frank G.. w. Pooler Of AL
Morrison of Phoenix, u. S. bureau of
public roads engineer for Arizona;
Levant Brown, engineer from the San
Francisco office of the bureau of pub
lie roads, and C. A. Long highway en-
gineer from the forest district office
at Albuquerque.
Construction of this important road
has been held up for several years,
the feeling being that forest funds
were inadequate. But the type of road
contemplated up to now was for Glass
A, 16 feet wide, with corresponding
large curve radii and very slight
grades. 1t was pointed out at the
conference and agreed to by the gov
ernment representatives that road of
that high type will not be needed, at
least for a dozen or more years, and
that a much less expensive type will
do splendidly. The type that will be
constructed, it is understood, will be
a modified standard, IL feet wide in
all, without too sharp curves and the
latter handled in such way that if
and when the time comes for advanc-
ing construction to higher standard
it will not be necessary to change the
route but will be necessary only to
widen the road at the curves.
The 100000 appropriated, or to be
appropriated, will all be spent on the
five miles or so nearest to and just
this side of Sedona, in the Wilson
Canyon section, which is the worst,
most dangerous and excepting the hill
at this end of the Canyon, will cost
more per mile than any of the rest of
the road through the Canyon. In
fact, the estimate of the bureau of
public roads is that it will cost about
$4,000 to build the first three miles,
and in the neighborhood of $4,000 to
build the next two miles.
With construction of the road ac-
tually begun and this worst part made
good, it may be taken for granted
that within very few years, perhaps
within the next two or three years,
enough money can be secured to COM
plete the highway throughout the en-
tire length of the Canyon, and to the
top Of the hill, % miles, Of which,
however, two miles has already been
built.
The present trail-for it is moth
ing more than that, while it is used
to some extent, is tiresome because Of
its narrowness and roughness, and
dangerous as well. With the compile
tion Of moderately good government
built highway, the trip through the
Canyon can be made with speed, COM
fort and safety, and will greatly en-
courage its development as a summer
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