Year: 1879

Following is the closing of an ar article in the Prescott Arizonan just received:

 Of course, no sane person expects the county supervisors to use up the credit of the county in fixing these roads, but something ought certainly be done to put them in repair. Per haps the general government, when pressed by our Representative in Con- gress, the military and civil authorl- ties here, will aid us to fix these roads If not, much as people dislike to have to pay toll, they would rather do so than to have to undergo endless trouble in trying to get over poor highways. If the county cannot make, repair ana keep the roads in good condition people think the authorities, if they have the power, ought to lease or pre- sent them to some person or persons who would do SO.

 If ever good mountain roads be built and maintained in Arizona, they will be built and maintained by pri- vate enterprise. We understand but one Congressional appropriation has ever been made to build a road in Arizona, and the work done with it is described by moro than one person as that of spelling good pack-trail without making road that can be travelled. Congress is growing more and more opposed to appropriations of money to build any kind of roads, and the Delegates have been harshly criticised for failing to accomplish an impossibility, and the friends of Dele gate Campbell will not serve him we'll by leading the people to believe he can do more in this respect than his predecessors have. He has the in creased opposition to overcome, made stronger in his case by the useless ex- penditure of the $15,000 in Arizona. Should he use the argument that said money was not expended by the citi- zens of Arizona, he will hardly i'm prove his chances of success. The chance of getting money from Con- gress to build roads in Arizona, is so very doubtful that it will not be safe to rely upon that source for aid.

 From what we can learn, the use of Territorial appropriations for build ing roads, has been about as useless as by the United States Government. Much more of the Territory's money IS still to be expended on roads, and we surely hope that when done it can be truly said that it was wisely and well done, but judging from the past, faint hope can be safely entertained in this respect.

 Yavapai county has expended mon ey on roads which her own people have pronounced practically a waste of cash. The Arizonan whose editor has always favored the building of mountain roads by the United States, the Territory and the counties, thus speaks of that county's experience:

 When the people of that county con- sented to burden themselves with a bonded debt of over $30,000 for a wagon road from Prescott, via Groom, Hassayampa, Turkey and other creeks, to Alexandra, in Peck Mining District, they fully believed the result would be good wagon road, which, by the expenditure of some more money, would be extended to the principal town in Bradshaw District. Their hopes and expectations have not been realized, The road was built to the Peck; but such a roadi It is described as utterly worthless. During its con struction, warning notes were sound ed, but to no purpose. The "jOb g went through, as the road" has, into the ground.

 Further comment seems superfluous regarding the building of mountain roads by the General or Local govern ments, The experiment has been tried in Arizona by each and absolute fail ure resulted on the part of each. Isl 1t wise or proper to continue these costly but useless methods?

 Good mountain roads are needed and they can be had, but only by pri- vate enterprise just as railways are built and maintained. The cost of good roads is very great and therefore the conditions upon which individuals will build them must be liberal. They not only eXpend their time and money in the work, but they trust to the flu ture outcome of the country over which their roads pass. But private capital must either be induced to build and maintain the mountain roads of Arizona, or there will be none worth the name. It is hopeful sign to wit ness the AriZonan changing It's ap- peals for aid in this respect.

 LW