Commission Notes

MAY, 1934 ARIZONA HIGHWAYS 11 Arizona Highway Commission Notes

April 13, 1934 The Arizona State Highway Commission met in special session in their offices in the Highway Building at 2:30 P. M., April 13, 1934. Those present were Chairman Dowell, Vice-Chairman Vyne, Commissioners Addams, Barth and Mansfield, also the Secretary, the State Engineer and Assistant Attorney General McDougall.

It was regularly moved by Commissioner Vyne, and carried without objection that the tentative minutes of March 19, 1934, be approved with the follow-ing amendments: The motion on the awarding of all highway contracts is to include "subject to the approval of the Bureau of Public Roads". On page 3, third line of the second paragraph, insert the words "plans on" after "covered only those", and again on page 4, on the 11th line of the first paragraph insert the words "plans on" after the words "listed only those". On page 3, add the following to the fourth paragraph "Mr. G. L. McLane, of the Bureau of Public Roads, in response to Mr. O'Connell, advised that bids could not be called on 98-D until the tests on the Subgrade had been made by the Laboratory and these tests could not be finished in two weeks because Subgrade was not in place on the whole project and it would take approximately two weeks after receipt of samples to complete the tests." On page 5, add the following to the second paragraph, "Commissioner Vyne advised that taking into consideration the contracts which have been awarded, and those projects that are now with the Plans Department and are to be awarded, Maricopa County will receive $127,796.83 more than the amount set up in the 1933-1934 budget, making an approximate total of $800,000 that Maricopa County will receive this fiscal year." On page 7, second paragraph, 10th line, change the words "Attorney General's office", to "Motor Vehicle Department."

It was regularly moved, seconded, and carried, that the tentative minutes of March 24th be approved providing that in the awarding of each highway bid the motion includes the words "subject to the approval of the Bureau of Public Roads".

Awarding of the contract on the Holbrook-St. Johns Highway, N. R. H. 42, (A. F. E. No. 2623).

State Engineer O'Connell explained to the Commission that a bid had been received on this project from Rogers Brothers, Snowflake, Arizona, in which they had written thirty-five cents in stead of thirty-five dollars a cubic yard for concrete and carried their extensions at the rate of thirty-five cents; also, on the 36" C. M. P., they had written five cents instead of five dollars and extended their totals figuring five cents; and the Department had auto-matically thrown out the bid in accord-ance with Part 1, Section 2, Paragraph 10 of the General Specifications. He stated further that Mr. Rogers offered no objection due to the fact that he could not carry out the contract at these figures. He recommended, with this in mind, that the contract be awarded sub-ject to the approval of the Bureau of Public Roads, to the Wm. Peper Con-struction Company and Leo Frost, Phoe-nix, Arizona, in the amount of $9,719.-44. It was regularly moved by Commissioner Mansfield, seconded by Commissioner Vyne, and unanimously carried, that the recommendation of the State Engineer be accepted.

Awarding of the contract on the Benson-Douglas Highway, N. R. M. 79-C, (A. F. E. 28).

State Engineer O'Connell pointed out that this is the second time bids have been received by the Department on this project and there is approximately $400 difference between the two calls. He stated that although this is still over the estimate, he recommended that due to the fact the job is a small one and it has been readvertised once, the con-tract be awarded on the Alternate to the low bidder, the Pleasant-Hasler Con-struction Company in the amount of $16,731.55, subject to the approval of the Bureau of Public Roads. It was regularly moved by Commissioner Mansfield, seconded by Commissioner Vyne, and unanimously carried, that the recommendation of the State Engineer be accepted.

State Engineer O'Connell recommended, subject to the approval of the Bureau of Public Roads, that the con-tract on the Kingman-Boulder Dam Highway, N. R. S. 102-A, (A. F. E. 6901), be awarded to the low bidder, the All Arizona Engineering and Con-struction Company, Clifton, Arizona, on their regular bid, in the amount of $20,433.53, which bid is lower than any bid on the Alternate. It was regularly moved by Commissioner Addams, sec-onded by Commissioner Mansfield, and carried, that the recommendation of the State Engineer be accepted.

Mr. Milton P. Smith appeared before the Commission and requested in behalf of the people of Prescott that all work cease on the highway between Wilhoit and Prescott, from Friday evenings to Monday mornings, inasmuch as the week-end traffic is too heavy for the Iron Springs Road and accidents are likely to occur. He also stated that business in Prescott had dropped con-siderably and he requested that the work be so arranged as to keep the highway open during the week. Mr. H. C. Hatcher, Statistical Engineer, advis-ed that he had talked to Mr. Dickerson, of the contracting firm of Pearson and Dickerson, and had been informed they would keep the highway open Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, however, it would be very dangerous to allow peo-ple doing any hauling to use the high-way during the week as the road is nar-row and serious accidents are likely to take place. State Engineer O'Connell advised Mr. Smith that the Department will take this up with the contractor and endeavor to work the matter out to the satisfaction of all concerned.

State Engineer O'Connell stated that while he was East, Deputy State Engineer Smyth wired him that on account of the lack of funds, it would be necessary to close down the work from Clifton North unless a transfer of funds could be made. He further stated he wired Mr. Smyth to keep the project going until the Commission would meet and in the meantime he would see what funds could be made available. He pointed out that this is a force account job and the Department is allowed to spend only $50,000 on it, which would leave the balance to be transferred ap proximately $9,000.

It was regularly moved by Commissioner Vyne, seconded by Commissioner Mansfield, and unanimously carried, that a resolution transferring funds in the total amount of $136,237.91, be approved.

It was regularly moved by Commissioner Mansfield, seconded by Commissioner Addams, and unanimously carried, that a resolution transferring funds in the amount of $8,580.72, from Budget 71 to A. F. E. 24, be approved.

Commissioner Vyne stated he had been interviewed in Williams concerning the request made by the Women's Club to place signs at the entrance of each town along Highway 66. He advised that they merely wished to place the name of the town on the sign with-(Continued on Page 21)