The Coconino sun., 1927-03-04
GOVERNOR MAKES GOAT
OF BILL TO SAVE HIGHWAY
DEPARTMENT FROM SOLONS
(Continued from page ~

If this highway is eventually added
to the seven percent system, bridge
adequate to carry q load of 10 tons
must be provided, and 1t would be
the height of folly for the state to
invest the amount OF money that IS
necessary for a bridge that will be
obsolete in. few years, whereas 1t
should serve for a generation. Adj
the other bridges on our seven per-
cent system are designed to carry
two 15-ton units and have been built
to these Specifications.
The $3.50, GOO that would be avail
able if i signed this bill would not
build d class "B' bridge, eighteen
feet wide, to carry one l5-ton load
even with the cheapest class OF con-
struction, and stay within acceptable
engineering principles.
The state engineer advises me that
he obtained letter from Mr. Runke
in which a Kansas City bridge pro-
moter said that he thought 1t might
be possible TO build a bridge wlthln
the $23O,000 limitation. The Hlgn-
way Department advises me that TINS
might be possible, by waving ex-
treIIieIy important engineering prin-
ciples, but that the stability and lie
of the structure could not be guaran-
taed if cheap construction Is resort
ed to.
I repeat that / am very anxious to
see legislation authorizing the build
ing OF this bridge. But ara very
hasitant to do such an unbuslneSsiike
and uneconomic thing as to sign the
present bill with these objections
against it. The situation is such that
/ may of necessity be forced to veto
the bill rather than see useless ex-
penditure made. And possibly be-
cause of the lack of an edaquate ap-
preparation and inability to secure a
bid satisfactory to the United States
Government, a situation might arise
which would cause the state to lose
the S1O0,000.00 appropriations.
would suggest that the bin be
recalled for further consideration
Respectfully,
Governor"
Senator Runke Replies
In a letter explaining the situation,
Senator Walter Runke of Coconino
county says:
The rurnblings of the last few days
made me believe it was coming. l am
satisfied at the outset that there is
nothing else back Of it than politics
in toto.
have in my possession certified
copy of an estimate given me by the
/ Bureau of Public Roads which places
the total Of the total of the estimate
at 1920. .768.45. It is true that it COW
ers a wooden decking but / know too
that the Little Colorado river bridge
/ is wooden also and probably is more
exposed to the hazard of fire on ac-
/ count of Indians camping on both
ends constantly, but after nearly 10
ycars-it was built in 1910--is still
standing. This estimate from the
| Public Roads Bureau was re-checked
] back with their San Francisco office
before used it as a basis for my bill.
/ The type of bridge which the High
! way Department wants according to
! their estimate will cost S13S,00 more
although Ii does provide for ~ 1T.
span instead of an IL tt. span ana
concrete decking instead of wood.
I Nevertheless there could hardly by
any stretch of imagination be even
then such difference in added cost.
In letter from Carl Hayden which
the Governor refers to, the bridge
contractor Harrington (not promot-
er) says the bridge can be built tor
! $500, ,O0000. Note also that the Gov
ernor says that approaches OF sew
eral miles must be built. | am GER
tain that Coconiilo county viii build
these approaches SO as to make
passable road from the turn-offs to
the site of the bridge; on the south
approach almost nothing is needed
in the way of road work and not a
great deal on the north. In the last
paragraph the Governor speaks of
useless expenditure that might be
made. Certainly the Federal Govern
ment and especially the Indian Bu-
reau would not allow the expenditure
of Indian Funds for bridge which
would be useless or even unsuitable.
The sum and substance of the
whole thing as look at it is that no
bridge shall be built unless this
Highway Department of ours can
have accepted padded estimate and
that this state wide wanted construc-
tion work may be used as a club over
our heads to force general highway
MGH&uIE 10 LttG ilhAi1B~ W t4AC rtulntAllS-
tration and its cohorts.
I know that it will be next to inn
possible to yet through bill in the
legislature for an amount as much
as $13S, 900 more than is now provid-
ed for. If the Highway Department
will consider accepting an amount
somewheres near reason it might yet
Be possible to put through an addi-
tional amount for the bridge, but
$138 900 more is staggering.