ALONG THE HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS

ALONG THE HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS Arizona Calendar

NOTES: As a part of this feature each month, we will present a calendar of Arizona events for the present month and a month in advance. This should be of interest to those visitors and Arizonans who wish to keep up on what is happening in the state. * Sample license plates from every state in the union are on display in the motor vehicle division of the Arizona highway department. They would not be usable on vehicles because they are generally numbered naught-naught-naught. * There is every indication that 1989 will be the banner year for tourist travel in Arizona. There are several reasons given for this. First, the name and fame of Arizona as a travel mecca is spreading throughout the country, and the statewide Marcos de Niza festivals will attract an unusual number of visitors. Also, the thousands of visitors to the San Francisco World's Fair of the West will travel the Arizona highways on their way to and from the east. * Bill Allen and Jack Buzzard, the new superintendent of the highway patrol and the new patrol captain have been working together for years and both are able, experienced men. Their appointment has met with great favor in this state.

FEBRUARYMARCH-

POSTCARD FROM JAPAN: Mr. Foster Rockwell of Adams hotel, Phoenix, touring Japan with an American hotel group as guests of the Japanese hotel association, postcarded greetings from Tokyo in December. He wrote: "Saw the November issue in Library of Imperial hotel, Tokyo. Great work. No other American magazine on table. Congratulations."

All of which we are grateful to know and proud to know that the magazine is carrying the story of Arizona highways and of Arizona to Nippon.

Mr. and Mrs. Rockwell returned to the United States early in January.

FOR THE SAKE OF SAFETY: The traffic engineering division has completed a scientific survey on the Blythe-Wickenburg highway, the first survey of its kind in this state. The sum total has resulted in the information that motorists drive too fast. Where engineering calculations show 60 the top safe speed some motorists were checked doing a cool 90. The road has been classified under a special speed zone, with 60 and 50 posted as speed limits during day and night. Another interesting experiment will be tried. The division has tested each bad curve for top speed and each curve will be posted for that speed. The motorist carefully driving by signs will get there safely.

BACKTRACKS ROADWORTHY QUOTES:

"One of the outstanding points of intensive discussion at the Dallas meeting of the American Association of State Highway Officials was the prospective diversion of the so-called excise taxes, with special reference to the diversion of gasoline taxes which are devoted in Arizona solely to road purposes. It is pertinent to note that three states, California, Michigan and New Hampshire, passed by large majorities at the November elections constitutional amendments providing against the further diversion of any of the gasoline taxes collected within the state. Monies collected from the road user should be used exclusively for road purposes." Howard S. Reed, State Highway Engineer.

"What is a modern highway? Just because a new road is built between here and there this year, is no reason to class it as modern. To be modern, as we see it today, a highway must adequately meet all the traffic demands likely to be imposed on it now and for at least twenty years hence. It must be safe for sustained speeds of at least 50 M.P.H.; it must have ample sight distance! it must have wide shoulders and ample width of traffic lanes; it must meet the requirements of free moving vehicles in case of emergency, such as flat slopes to allow vehicles to stay upright if by chance they must leave the road, or ample guard rail to keep them from hurtling over high banks." E. V. Miller, plans engineer, Arizona highway department.

FAREWELL TO ADVERTISING:

The Arizona Highway Commission, publishers of ARIZONA HIGHWAYS, decided at their last meeting to discontinue paid advertising in this magazine. This magazine is owned by the citizens of Arizona and published in the interests of good roads in the state, and for the general benefit of the state as a medium of informing traveling America of the scenic beauties and climatic excellence of Arizona.

The Commission feels that it is not within the realm of this magazine to compete with privately owned publications for paid advertising. It is the wish of the Commission for ARIZONA HIGHWAYS to cooperate with the newspapers and periodicals of the state, not to compete; to offer any service at any time.

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS has now as its only function that worthy one of telling the world about Arizona. We will tell of the roads, the romance, the history, the scenic attractions of Arizona. We will tell of our citizens who are active in various pursuits and who are to us worthy of note. We will try to report the growth and advancement of the state, and mirror the changing scene. In short, we will try to tell the story of Arizona the plain, simple story of Arizona without false adornment or the palaver of super-salesmenship.

We do not have to resort to legerdemain to sell Arizona. Arizona sells herself. You remember the story about the man with the better mousetrap and the beaten path to his door?

Today there is a beaten path to Arizona because a "better" state was built.

People who are in the resort and ranch business tell us it is the most exciting of all. You never know what will happen. Outside reservations were slow in late fall and early winter.

Reason: the eastern states enjoyed a mild autumn, the fall elections held the interest of many, and then came the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Then all of a sudden winter moved into the east, moved in hard and furious. The holidays were suddenly over, and in just a few weeks our resorts and ranches enjoyed exceptional demand for reservations.

And you will marvel at the number of out-of-state automobiles there are in Arizona this month. Where do all of the cars come from? Why, from all of the other 47 United States, Canada, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, and various foreign countries.

Surely, you know that.