Douglas daily dispatch., 1928-01-07
WHY The DELAY
ON HIGHWAY 80,
BOARDS QUERY

Just what is the reason for the
delay in the road construction work
planned for Highway 80 and for
which the Federal aid funds have
been appropriated? Why has not
the work been started? What is yet
necessary to get it started? Those are
some of the questions that presented
themselves to the members of the
board of directors of the Chamber
of Commerce and Mines at the meet
ing last evening, the first to be
held in the new year. And after a
general discussion, it resolved itself
into a proposal to find out. The angle
of attack to get the information was
agreed upon to be the highway COM
mission and letter will be sent at
Cnce by the chamber to see if it can
ascertain answers to any of it's
questions. 1t will insist upon know
ing the status and no wthings may
be speeded up.
The aggravating factor appears to
be that delay is apt to be very cost
ly. There already has been the
steps taken to provide the funds. But
if the work is not done before the
end of the fiscal year then it re-
suits in substantially the same as a
loss of the amount appropriated be-
cause while it is not withdrawn, it
stands over against the area in the
nert years allotment and might cas-
| lily prevent the county from securing
other funds which could be had if
this project had been completed on
time and was out of the way. Be-
cause of the danger of that loss the
chamber directors are much con-
cerned abuot having the work hur-
ried and get it out of the way before
the end of the fiscal year
1t was brought out that nothing
has been done to dase but surveying
and that there seems to have been
no speed records broken on that
work 1t was mentioned that one
crew of. several men had been work
months and that so far as word
creeps out from official circles the
surveying is not yet done.
The directors at the meeting took
up accumulated correspondence and
disposed of it. One invitation came
from Tucson asking that delegates be
sent from Douglas to their banquet
planned for Jan. Ii TO celebrate the
31st anniversary of the reorganization
of their commercial club 1t was de-
cided to delegate Jolln B. Crowell
and Pat White, local bankers, to be
present at the session and it is un-
derstood both will be there.
There was permanent committee
on aviation named by the chamber,
the members being John B. Crow
lei, J.. P. Sexton and D. G. O'Neill
!, This action was taken to keep the
chamber in stride with the activities
I of Douglas in its effOrS 20 secure, pro-
pc rairport facilities developed.
| Recent rumors had limited that
there was plan being considered by
the Pickwick stages to change the
route which serves Doug-aS and
letter was read in reply to an IN
curry sent by the chamber to find
| cut about it. The company announc-
| ed that there was no intention OF
making any changes but that the
thing believed to have started the
report was explained and shown to
have had no such reference.
! The chamber decided it would not
/ -Ol11Cld11y 1CPAOoCAAbO0 c"O O-AS OO-A-
ing meeting of the good roads as
sociation scheduled for Nogales but
George E. jackson, president OF the
board, stated that he thought it like
ly that he would attend and that
there would be others make the
trip, as it is regarded as good
/ thing by the local body to have rep
resentation at the meeting.
/ There had been some correspondence
with the state delegation in the ma
tional congress, both wiGh the U. S.
senators and with the representative
in the lower house on the subject
of the possible change in the plans
bv which soldiers are maintained at
Douglas and at Nogales. 1t appears
that the congressional delegation is
mindful of the responsibility resting
upon it to use every effort to prevent
4 the removal of the soldiers from the
present camps and the letters re-
ceived from the congressional
delegates was of an encouraging ma
ture, indicating that there was real
iy no cause for worry about the
possible removal.
There were numerous other let
ters of. minor Importance which were
considered and disposed OF.
4 -C----