Editorials

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS ARIZONA HIGHWAYS

Published in the Interest of Good Roads by the ARIZONA HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT JOHN C. MCPHEE, Editor CIVILIZATION FOLLOWS THE IMPROVED HIGHWAY There remains much to be done in Arizona in addition to the widening and otherwise improving our present high-type highways. In the not far distant future we may envision broad paved highways to our favorite fishing or hunting spots, now reached over rough roads or trails.

With the aid of generous Uncle Sam and co-operating Arizona motorists there is every reason to believe that the time will come when no spot of commercial or recreational importance can not be reached in the easy seat of your favorite automobile.

JANUARY, 1935

Vol. XI

No. 1

ARIZONA STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION

SHELTON G. DOWELL, Chairman, Douglas RAY N. VYNE, Vice-Chairman, Prescott JACOB BARTH, Commissioner, St. Johns MONTE MANSFIELD, Commissioner, Tucson C. E. ADDAMS, Commissioner, Phoenix C. C. JARRETT, Secretary, Mesa

GENERAL OFFICE

SID SMYTH, Deputy State Engineer E. M. WHITWORTH, Vehicle Superintendent R. A. HOFFMAN, Bridge Engineer E. V. MILLER, Engineer of Plans J. W. POWERS, Engineer of Materials W. L. CARPENTER, Superintendent of Equipment SWAN A. ERICKSON, Engineer Certification Board T. S. O'CONNELL, State Highway Engineer J. S. MILLS, Engineer of Estimates H. C. HATCHER, Statistical Engineer W. M. MURRAY, Superintendent of Stores M. L. WHEELER, Chief Accountant C. R. McDOWELL, Patrol Superintendent A. C. SIEBOTH, Right-of-Way Agent W. S. FRERICHS, Purchasing Agent

FIELD ENGINEERS

GEORGE B. SHAFFER, District Engineer District No. 1 F. N. GRANT, District Engineer District No. 2 R. C. PERKINS, District Engineer District No. 3 W. R. HUTCHINS, District Engineer District No. 4

PERCY JONES Chief Locating Engineer

Subscription Rates: $1.00 per Year. Advertising Rates on Request

Single Copy: 10 Cents

Address All Communications to Editor ARIZONA HIGHWAYS Phoenix, Arizona Arizona Highway Department

OUR COVER PICTURE

The curious fellow whose baleful eye gleams at you from this month's cover of ARIZONA HIGHWAYS was photographed by Norman G. Wallace, author of the article appearing elsewhere in this issue entitled "Winter at the Grand Canyon." Interesting wild animal studies are the goal of every outdoor photographer, but few possess the technic or are fortunate enough to bring to the printed page the true impression of life among the rocks or pines. That Norman G. Wallace has succeeded in procuring a rare photograph with all the depth, the realism and the fresh atmosphere of the wild can best be told by one who has often witnessed in real life the scene that he portrays. The buck deer was photographed at a distance of 30 feet near the rim of the Grand Canyon. Companion does stood warily at the rear.

ON THE THRESHOLD OF A GREAT PROGRAM

The question is often asked, “what are we going to do in Arizona when our highway program is complete?” And the answer is: It will never be complete.

An immense highway construction job still faces Arizona. Accidents and high car driving costs, fostered by lack of adequate highway improvements, extract tolls that far exceed the money expended for highway improvements.

Accidents, with deaths, injuries and damaged cars that follow in their wake, annually cost $2,500,000,000 or $1,000,000,000 more than is spent each twelve months for highway repair and betterment in the nation.

High driving costs, too, vastly swell the highway transportation bill. Arizona motorists annually travel millions of miles. Naturally the good roads in service have largely reduced car driving costs. Yet estimating excessive driving costs on poor roads, Arizona motorists spend thousands of dollars in excess of what they would pay if every road was provided with traffic facilities better suited to the motor vehicle.

That continued Arizona highway improvement at an accelerated rate would pay for itself is indicated by the fact that the costs of driving cars today is probably more than one-third less than it was 15 years ago when good road building got under way.

NEXT MONTH

The story of Arizona highways, couched in terms of the past and of the future, will be told in the February number of ARIZONA HIGHWAYS by T. C. O'Connell, state engineer. Special stress will be laid on future plans and hopes relative to Arizona's highway system.By Magers

HIGHWAY HEADACHES