ARIZONA HIGHWAY COM- MISSION NOTES

MARCH 7, 1938. The Arizona State Highway Commis-sion met in regular session at 10:00 A. M., March 7, 1938, in its offices in the Highway Building. Those present were: Chairman Dowell, Vice-Chairman Angle, Commissioners Langmade and Seale, also the State Engineer, Howard S. Reed, the Secretary, M. L. Wheeler, and Assistant Attorney General A. R. Lynch. Commissioner Scott arrived at 10:55 Α. Μ.The State Engineer presented a letter from Vernon G. Davis, Motor Vehicle Superintendent, concerning the size, design and color of the license plates for the year 1939. Discussion followed concerning recognition on the plates of the 400th anniversary of the coming of Fray Marcos de Niza to this country, and omission or continuation of the county designation, as well as the enlargement of the present sized plate. It was suggested that one issue of the Highway Magazine be devoted to the coming of de Niza with articles relating this important historical event. The State Engineer was asked to have sketched the various suggestions made about the license plates and submit the drawings to the Commission at the next meeting.

A delegation from Safford, headed by W. E. Waldrom, President of the Graham County Chamber of Commerce, asked consideration of the following projects: Widening of Highway 70 from Solomonville to Geronimo.Completion of the remaining 9% miles on Highway 70 between Solomonville and Duncan.

Completion of Highway 81 from Safford to Bowie.

Reconstruction of Morenci-Clifton-Safford Road.

The State Engineer informed the delegation that the Department is making a survey from York to the County Line.

C. A. Firth, member of the Graham County delegation, suggested the Department investigate a new line down through Pankeyville, since about 80% of the south-bound traffic from Safford goes beyond Willcox.

It was moved by Commission Angle, seconded by Commission Seale, and unanimously carried, that the proposed cover picture for the 1939 map portraying San Xavier Mission, Tucson, be accepted and the name of the Mission, with date of construction, be printed thereon. The State Engineer was authorized to call for bids on 100,000 1939 Highway Maps.

It was moved by Commissioner Lang-made, seconded by Commissioner Angle, and unanimously carried, that the following speed restrictions be adopted: Twenty-five mile limit beginning at the west city limits of Safford and continuing west on U. S. 70 for .25 of a mile.

Forty-five mile limit, beginning at a point .25 of a mile west of the west city limits of Safford and continuing westward on U. S. 70 a distance of 12 5-10 miles, to the west end of F. A. P. No. 63.

Forty-five mile limit beginning at the south city limits of Safford and continuing south on State Route 81 a distance of 1 2-10 miles.

Forty-five mile limit, beginning at the east city limits of Safford and continuing east on U. S. 70 a distance of seven miles, to the east end of F. A. P. No. 67.

The state engineer read a report from J. R. Van Horn, Traffic Manager, dated January 14th, on proposal to establish a speed limit on the Wickenburg-Ehrenberg Highway, U. S. 60170 and the Eloy Casa Grande Highway, State Route 84. Mr. Van Horn stated there are several other sections of highways that present far more physical hazards in the way of sharp curves, poor sight distances, faulty road surface, etc., than these two particular sections, and also there are other sections in which the accident rate in proportion to traffic volume is considerably higher. A table was also listed, in with sections of state highway were selected to compare their rate of accidents in terms of vehicle miles per year, which showed that the Eloy-Casa Grande section has about the same accident rate as three other sections, while the rate on the Wickenburg-Ehrenberg section is much less. The recommendation of the State Engineer that these two sections of Highway be left for further consideration was accepted.

AFTERNOON SESSION

Upon recommendation of State Engineer Reed, it was moved by Commisioner Seale, seconded by Commissioner Scott, and unanimously carried, that the services of Jack Choisseur, Assistant Attorney General, be continued to the end of the fiscal year at his present salary, which shall be charged directly to project or division for which he rendered services.

It was moved by Commissioner Angle, seconded by Commissioner Seale, and unanimously carried, that a resolution in the amount of $61,772.00, be adopted.

In accordance with the recommendation of Equipment Engineer Holland and District Engineer Hutchins, it was moved by Commissioner Scott, seconded by Commissioner Seale, and unanimously carried, that bids covering Item 1, two three-ton four wheel drive trucks be awarded to the O. A. Stapley Company on their bid of $5,980, covering two Marmon-Harringtons, Number C-20-4.

In accordance with the recommendation of Equipment Engineer Holland and District Engineer Perkins, it was moved by Commissioner Scott, seconded by Commissioner Angle, and unanimously carried, that the bid covering Item 2, two three-ton rear wheel drive trucks, be awarded as follows: One truck to the Miller Brothers, on their bid covering Reo No. 2H5, in the amount of $1,597.36.

One truck to Neil B. McGinnis Company, on their bid covering one Mack Jr., in the amount of $1,501.00.

In accordance with the recommendation of Equipment Engineer Holland and District Engineers Hutchins and Per-kins, it was moved by Commissioner Seale, seconded by Commissioner Angle, and unanimously carried, that Items 3 and 4, covering two all steel 3½ cubic yard hydraulic dump bodies, and two all steel 3½ yard dump bodies, respectively, be awarded to the Allison Steel Company, in the amount of $558.96 each.

In accordance with the recommendation of Equipment Engineer Holland and District Engineer Perkins, it was moved by Commissioner Angle, seconded by Commissioner Scott, and carried, Commissioner Langmade voting "no", that bid covering Item 5, ½ Cubic Yard Pick-up Sweeper, be awarded to the Neil B. McGinnis Company, in the amount of $3,090.

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Nemore, Craig, Allen and Bledsoe, Attorneys for the California, Arizona and Sante Fe Railway Company, appeared before the Commission with reference to the request submitted at the last meeting for permits to establish a grade crossing on F. A. P. 70, near Ennis, just west of Agua Fria River on U. S. Routes, 60 70-80. After the presentation of a letter from G. L. McLane, Senior Highway Engineer, Bureau of Public Roads, in which no objection was raised, and dis cussion with Mr. Bledsoe, it was moved by Commissioner Seale, seconded by Com missioner Scott and unanimously carried, that the request be granted. Mr. Bledsoe assured the Commission that each move ment of the trains across the highway will be accompanied by a flagman on each side, or at the front and rear of the train, whichever is preferred.

Peter Riley, President of the Greenlee County Chamber of Commerce, and a delegate from Greenlee County, requested the Commission to relieve the unemploy ment situation in their county by starting work on the widening and realignment of the highway from Duncan to Clifton, and using the $25,000 set up in the 1937-1938 budget for this project in conjunction with WPA. The State Engineer was au thorized to use what is available of the $25,000 budget item in conjunction with the WPA as requested. It was also re quested by Mr. Riley and the delegation that the Commission, either by direct ap propriation or in conjunction with the WPA, set up an amount in next year's budget for an oiling project from Duncan to Clifton. His request was taken under advisement.

It was moved by Commissioner Seale, seconded by Commissioner Angle, and unanimously carried, that a resolution respecting the establishment, location and relocation of F. A. P. No. 48, Phoenix Prescott Highway, be adopted.

Reporting on the status of the Winslow Bridge project, State Engineer Reed said the field survey is complete, the founda tion logs of the Santa Fe are available, and super-structure has been designed, but no work has been done on the piers and abutment.

Other reports made by the State En gineer were on the survey of the Streets of Prescott and routing of the Miami Superior Highway.

The state Engineer presented a letter from Patrick F. Payne, Director of Safety, Interstate Transit Lines, Omaha, Nebraska, expressing appreciation for the many instances of cooperation and friendliness shown their drivers by mem-bers of the maintenance crews of the Highway Department. The letter was acknowledged with pleasure.

The subject of placing patrol ambulance cars in certain requested localities was called to the attention of the Com mission, and authorization was given to place ambulance cars at St. Johns, Gila Bend, and Safford.

The Secretary reported that the budget would not permit the granting of the re quest of the Arizona State Safety Coun cil, presented by Ray Busey, at the Febu ary 17th meeting. It was the opinion of the Commission that the request for ad ditional men, under the supervision of the Motor Vehicle Superintendent, to work as team mates with patrol officers should be considered when making the 1938-1939 budget.

Mr. Gibson, representing the street car and bus operators of Phoenix, appeared before the Commission concerning the setting up of a wage scale. Attorney Lynch, on being called upon, stated he had given this considerable study since the last meeting and pointed out that the street car and bus operators have entered into a contract with the City of Phoenix, which is complete in itself. Also, the Highway Department has no such em ployment as a street car driver or any thing comparable to that, and any such wage scale the Commission would fix on this classification, would not be binding on the City or the operators themselves. The Commission informed Mr. Gibson it was bound by the Attorney's opinion and there was nothing they could do for his group.

In compliance with the request from the Boards of Supervisors of Yavapai County and Apache County respectively, it was moved by Commissioner Seale, sec onded by Commissioner Scott and una nimously carried, that the road known as The Dewey Cut-off, leaving State High way 69 two miles north of Dewey and ex tending approximately nine miles to con nect with State Highway 79, fourteen and one-half miles from Jerome towards Prescott, and the road from Alpine, Ari zona, to the New Mexico State Line, ap proximately seven miles, be made state routes. It was moved by Commissioner Seale, seconded by Commissioner Scott and unanimously carried, that the Dewey Cut off and the Alpine-New Mexico State Line Roads be made state highways, and effective July 1, 1938, maintenance of these roads be taken over by the State Highway Department.

It was moved by Commissioner Lang made, seconded, and carried, that the Commission adjourn at 3:30 P. M., March 7, 1938, to reconvene again at 10:00 A. M., March 21, 1988.

The first settlement in what is now Maricopa County was at Wickenburg in 1864.

Lowest point in Maricopa County is Agua Caliente Springs.

What is now Arizona has been under four flags Spain, Mexico, Confederate States and the United States.

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