The Coconino sun., 1927-03-11
WORLDS GREATEST SCENIC
TOUR NEW WONDERLAND
ROUTE OFF BEATEN PATHS

(From Los Angeles Sunday Times)
BY appropriating $185,000 as its
share in construction costs of bridge
across the Colorado river near Lees
Ferry, near the point where the Utah
state line crosses the stream, Arizona
removes the last obstacle holding up
preliminary plans on a program that
Will bring new western scenic high
way of great significance to the south
west and lntermountain states. The
government already has appropriated
100000 for this bridge and the Ari-
zona legislature, at the. present ses-
sion, provided the remainder of the
estimated $2S5, 900 construction costs.
A bridge across the Colorado was
the key in plans for direct highway
from Salt Lake City to Flagstaff, Ari-
zona, on the southern swing of the
Park-to-Park highway and the all
year entrance to southern California.
For years ambassadors of the spec
tacular scenery of southern Utah and
the Grand Canyon have been looking
with longing eyes toward the time
when travellers to and from Califor-
MIA would have available a route pass
ing through the center of the scenic
land. The canyon of the Colorado
was the impossible barrier and every
one recognized that until a bridge
was thrown across the box CANYON. 45O
feet deep, it would be necessary to
consider the development as two
projects, one from Salt Lake City to
the Kaibab forest and north rim and
the other from the Grand Canyon Ma
tional Park south to the Park-to-P Park
highway.
Opens Scenic Wonders
Contemplation of the relationship
of the new route to the major scenic
attractions indicates its strategic posi-
ton. It will cut. through the center
of the gems of southern Utah scenery,
will make readily accessible to trans
continental tourists the timbered |
beauty of the Kaibab national for
ests, will make available at one trip
the Grand Canyon from both the
north and south rims, will give new /
points of vantage from which to sect
Bryce Canyon and the Vermillion
Cliffs, those majestic walls of gaudy-
hued rock, visible all the way from
Zion to the Paria river, and will open
wider to travel the Navajo and Hopi +
Indian country and give greater
vision of the alluring Painted Desert
The new thoroughfare will. furnish
a much-sought direct portation
channel between Utah and Arizona
and will provide better outlet to
harvest some of the ripe western yell
low pine timber from the Kaibab Ma
tional Forest. The government is in
terested because it believes the devel-
opment will materially increase the
of visitors to Grand Canyon
National Park.
The route appears on the federal
system maps in red but for a
distance it is an uniIn-
proved road. That it is in the federal
system does not, however, mean it is
accorded federal aid. Federal aid at
present is not available for the road
south of Panguitch, Utah, but several
sectors in Utah and Arizona come in
Tor federal moneys by virtue of being
within boundaries of national forests.
Arizona tried to get the Flagstaff
Colorado river sector included in her
federal aid system but the bureau of
public roads thought Arizona was al
.eady adequately cared for.
Various highway developments in
he territory affected by this develop
nent have presaged much. The Tim
oanogos drive, an off-shoot from the
highway south of Salt Lake, circling
he foot of the majestic Wasatcht
oeak, is being improved this year by
he forest service. Another side trip
possible when the new route becomes
/ major traffic stream will be to Fish
lake, which supplies about 1900 +
,oirudS 0f fish nvarv wear to anglers |
The Fish Lake road will take off the
lew highway route at Richfield. 1t is
,eing improved now.
The next big project is the Mt.
Jarmel-Zion Park highway, a So ,000,-
100 project, which will require about
hree years to build. Mt. Carmel, the
EASTERN terminus Of the 23-mile east
.rn entrance of the park, will be a