PORTRAIT OF A ROAD

Some years ago, before U. S. Highway 66 was hard surfaced, Norman G. Wallace, engineer-photographer, passed by this way near Williams shortly after a storm. Havoc caused by the snowstorm to the roadway is graphically shown by Mr. Wallace's study above. Throughout northern Arizona, in the mountain regions, travel in the old days was always in danger of the sporadic storm that would come quickly and as quickly go. Melting snows would then leave a soggy, mushy roadbed, hard to travel.

Mr. Wallace passed this way near Williams after a storm not long ago. Paved, oiled road has replaced the dirt road of yesterday. Hurrying transcontinental traffic taking "66" from Chicago to Los Angeles need have no fear of the occasional snowstorm which comes in winter to the northern part of our state. Mr. Wallace's study here is of the same bit of roadway as evidenced after the storm, before hard surfacing of the road bed. The modern Arizona highway is equally effective in storm as in good weather. Maintenance crews keep the roads open to fast traffic whatever the climatic conditions.

Lyons, resident engineer. V. J. Eyer, construction superintendent.

State Forces are widening and surfacing shoulders, and filling borrow pits on the Bisbee-Douglas Highway, U. S. Route 80, between Forest Ranch and Douglas. Works Progress Administration participating. The work consists of widening the existing 20 feet of highway to a 40 foot shoulder-to-shoulder width. A. F. E. 4401. Jas. A. Parker, resident engineer. Boone Waughtal, engineer-in-charge.

State Forces are widening structures and shoulders on the Douglas-State Line Highway, U. S. 80. Work consists of widening existing structures, widening shoulders and filling borrow pits. The work begins at the east city limits of Douglas, and runs to the New Mexico State Line. Works Progress Administration participating. A. F. E. 4041. Jas. A. Parker, resident engineer. Boone Waugh-tal, engineer-in-charge.

State Forces are improving U. S. 80, Benson-Douglas Highway through Bisbee. The work consists of widening and resurfacing 1500 feet of pavement. Two grade changes, curve betterment on dangerous curves, placing curb, gutter and sidewalks, rebuilding rubble retaining walls, placing cattle guards and fencing, and constructing a grilled drain across the highway to eliminate wet pavement. Works Progress Administration participating. A. F. E. 8012. Jas. A. Parker, resident engineer. Boone Waugh-tal, engineer-in-charge.

State Forces are working on curve easement and betterment on the Oracle Junction-Mammoth Highway, State Route 77. Works Progress Administration participating. The work started January, 1939. A. F. E. 33 (47). Jas. A. Parker, resident engineer. Frank Watson, foreman.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE-DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC ROADS

G. L. McLANE, Senior Highway Engineer.

W. R. F. WALLACE, Highway Engineer, Supervising Engineer.

R. THIRION, Associate Highway Engineer, Highway Planning Engineer.

J. H. BRANNAN, Associate Highway Engineer, Supervising Engineer.

W. P. WESCH, Highway Bridge Engineer, Bridge Engineer.

W. J. WARD, Associate Highway Engineer, Locating Engineer.

E. F. STRICKLER, Associate Highway Engineer, Supervising Engineer.

R. M. RUTLEDGE, Assistant Highway Engineer, Office Engineer.

BUREAU OF PUBLIC ROADS PROJECTS IN ARIZONA PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Route 7, Oak Creek Highway, Coconino National Forest Pearson and Dickerson, Contractors, Inc., Prescott, Arizona, have the contract for grading, draining and placing a base course surfacing with light bituminous treatment, on a portion of Section B of Arizona Forest Highway Route 7, Oak Creek. Project begins 0.6 miles north of Sedona and extends 3.577 miles northerly to Indian Gardens. Work was started November 21, 1938 and is about 35% complete. V. G. Watson, resident engineer.

Route 33, Catalina Mountain Highway, Coronado National Forest Project consists of grading and draining of a highway on the south side of the Catalina Mountains, between a point approximately 17 miles northeast of Tucson, Arizona and Soldier Camp Ranger Station near the summit. The project has been completed from the foot of of the mountain to a point 9 miles towards the summit. H. H. Woodman, resident engineer.

PROJECTS SUSPENDED FOR WINTER

Route 17, Snowflake-Pinetop, Sitgreaves National Forest W. E. Orr, Phoenix, Arizona, has the contract for grading, draining and placing borrow backfill on a portion of Section B of Arizona Forest Highway 17, Snowflake-Pinetop. Project begins approximately 2 miles north of Pinetop and extends 3.175 miles northwest to a point approximately 2 miles north of Lakeside. Work was suspended for the winter on January 6, 1939 when about 95% complete. Č. H. Clark, resident engineer.

Route 28, Fredonia-Houserock Valley Highway, Coconino National Forest Fisher Contracting Company, Phoenix, Arizona, has the contract for grading, draining and placing base course surfacing with light bituminous treatment on portions of Section C and D of Arizona Forest Highway Route 28, FredoniaHouserock Valley. Project is located be tween points approximately 3 and 16 miles north of Jacob Lake. The length of roadway between these points covered by the project is 6.137 miles. Work was suspended for the winter on January 3, 1939 when about 73% complete. C. R. Brashears, resident engineer.

Route 19, Clifton-Alpine Highway, Crook National Forest All Arizona Engineering and Construction Company, Clifton, Arizona, has the contract for grading, draining and placing cushion material on a portion of Section B of Arizona Forest Highway Route 19, Clifton-Alpine. Project begins approximately 45 miles north of Clifton and extends northerly 6.115 miles. Work was suspended for the winter on December 14, 1938, and is about 73% complete. E. F. Koch, resident engineer.

Jacob Lake-North Rim Approach To Grand Canyon National Park Fisher Contracting Company, Phoenix, Arizona, has the contract for grading, draining and placing base course surfacing with light bituminous treatment on a section of the Jacob Lake-North Rim Approach Road to Grand Canyon National Forest. Project begins at Jacob Lake and extends south 1.278 miles. Work was suspended for the winter on November 23, 1938 and is about 95% complete. C. R. Brashears, resident engineer.

CONTRACT AWARDED

The Secretary of Agriculture on December 30, 1938 accepted the bid of Oswald Brothers, Phoenix, Arizona, for grading, draining and placing crushed rock top course with a light bituminous treatment on portions of Section C and D of Arizona Forest Highway Route 28, Fredonia-Houserock Valley. Project begins at Jacob Lake and extends 11 miles northerly towards Fredonia. Contract work will start later in the year when weather conditions are favorable.

ARIZONA SKETCH BOOK: Lon Megargee

(Continued from Page 14)a mural design at the Travers home near Phoenix.

Arizona Sketch Book reproduces a few simple sketches to show his vivid interpretation, the bold clear lines and his simple, honest portraiture. He does not adhere to any fad or school of thought. There is nothing more beautiful than the scene as he has seen and lived it for so many years. The picture, he says, should carry its own story.

For the past several years he has beenoperating a guest ranch, Casa Hermosa, in Camelback district. The ranch house bespeaks the artist and careful craftsman in its builder and designer, Lon Megargee. In it is incorporated salient features of Spanish and Mexican design and architecture, which he found in churches and haciendas on his long rambling journeys in Mexico and Spain.

Casa Hermosa is large, airy and sunny, extremely comfortable and in good taste. The casa was designed to blend into the desert about it, to appear as if it was in its most natural place, to harmonize with the surroundings. Gay pictures by Megargee adorn the walls and here and there hangs a bullfight poster from old Seville.

The scene is perfect for Lon Megargee, the artist. About him is the desert and the hills. He has a few horses to ride and pleasant, cheerful surroundings. He devotes what time he has to spare to his paintings and drawings, always telling a simple, honest story of the west.