Condition of Roads on Arizona State Highway System

Attention, the people may at all times prevent the going into effect of legislation establishing any particular law or legal principle, and not carrying the emergency clause, by the use of the referendum, while at the same time retaining the power, through the failure to invoke that remedy, of changing their minds in regard to their previous action without the necessity of waiting until the next general election; while under that of respondent, a referendum once filed denies the right of the people to alter their opinion for nearly two years.

"We think there can be no question that petitioners' theory of the referendum is far more consonent with the spirit of our constitution and those principles of democratic government embodied therein than that referred to by counsel for respondent."

LARGE NUMBER OF ENTRIES RECEIVED FOR HARNESS RACES AT STATE FAIR NEXT WEEK

An unusually large number of entries have been received for the five days of harness racing at the Arizona State Fair, which opens November 7, according to Secretary Dillon who also announced that Frank Lieginger, the racing secretary, would arrive in Phoenix today from the coast.

Some of the fastest trotters and pacers in the west will be here for the five-day meeting and indications point to several new records being made on the fair grounds oval, which is considered one of the fastest dirt tracks in the southwest, racing officials stated. The state fair track holds the present world's trotting record which was established on January 9, 1926, by Mr. McElwyn, who set a mark of 1:59 1-4.

The stables of J. C. Wallace of Phoenix, John States of Pomona, and Charles E. Silva of Sacramento, are already on the grounds. D. A. Mathews, in charge of the fair grounds, already has the track in tip-top shape for the runners. It is expected that the majority of the stables will be here before the end of the week.

Three races, nine heats, will be run daily on the first five days of the fair. Saturday of Fair Week, as usual, will have auto races as the feature, Secretary Dillon said. There will be two special events on the racing program, to be run on Tuesday and Thursday. On Tuesday, November 8, the free for all pace for a purse of $750 will be run off, and on Thursday, the trotters will compete in the Fred H. Bixby stake for $750.

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS

Both stakes have been named for Fred H. Bixby, of Mesa and Long Beach, who is a member of the California Agricultural Commission and an ardent sportsman. Bixby owns a large ranch near Mesa and is one of the best known cattlemen in Arizona.

The free for all and 2:08 trots should prove great contests as the entries are very evenly matched and on the coast tracks showed they could beat 2:09 on a half-mile track. Racing officials stated that the 2:12 and 2:15 trots will make great races since two of the favorites, Gold Bond and Harry I will not be in these races, but instead will confine their activities to the 2:08 and free for all trots.

Dr. J. Gage Belt, formerly of Phoenix and who has officiated at many previous fairs here, will be manager of the speed events.

MOTOR VEHICLE BUREAU'S REPORT SHOWS INCREASE IN SALES OF GASOLINE

An increase of 23.4 per cent in the gross number of gallons distributed, 42.9 per cent in the net sale of taxable gasoline, and a decrease in the exemptions of 408,844.7 gallons, are shown in comparison of gasoline sales, tax collections and exemptions for the months of September, 1926 and 1927, compiled by the Motor Vehicle Department of the Arizona State Highway Department.

As formerly compiled by the secretary of state's office, there was no segregation of local exemptions from export resales-which also are exemptso that a full comparison of September consumption for the two years is impossible, but it was possible to show that total exemptions for September, 1926 were 18 per cent and for September, 1927 were 5.1 per cent. In gallons, the figures were 624,737.7 a year ago and 215,893 this year. Local exemptions to local Arizona consumers were only 2.1 per cent last month of the total sales, while exports and resales were 3 per cent.

The table also shows that, although under the new law the counties receive only three-eighths of the tax collected and the state five-eighths, instead of the former 75-25 per cent apportionment, amounts remitted to both the counties and the state that is, the state highway department increased notably last month over the corresponding figures for the year previous. Under the old law the amount remitted to the counties was $42,692.65, whereas last month it was $59,454.41, an increase of $16,761.77.

Similarly, the amount remitted to the state last year was $42,692.64, as against $99,090.68 this year, an increase of $56,398.04, or more than 100 per cent.

Three factors enter into this increase -the addition of one cent, or 25 per cent, to the tax rate; the increase in population and motor vehicle registrations; and the decrease in exemptions thus far claimed.

By counties, the increase in taxes collected on gasoline sales works out as follows:

Average increase 39.2 132.1 In the case of Coconino county the phenomenal increase is due to the fact that in 1926, one dealer lumped his September and October returns, while in the case of Cochise county another dealer lumped his August and September figures, causing a decrease by comparison with the figures for September, 1927.

APACHE TRAIL TO OPEN TO TRAFIFC DECEMBER 1

Opening of the Apache Trail Highway is due about December 1, according to announcement by the Arizona State Highway Commission and W. C. Lefebvre, State Highway Engineer. Mr. Lefebvre has just returned from an inspection trip of the work.

Work was started on the Apache Trail Highway September 22, under the supervision of W. R. Hutchins, district engineer. It covers that section starting at a point one mile west of the Roosevelt Dam and extends for a distance of three miles west.

The steam shovel work is going ahead rapidly on the east end of the project with two shifts at work. Sixty men and teams, comprising one shift, are at work on the west end.

The Engineer's Log DISTRICT, NO. 1 F. N. GRANT ACTING DISTRICT ENGINEER

Regular maintenance work in entire district, divided into 13 sections. Ambrose Hunt is maintenance foreman.

Prescott-Jerome: 2 sections. W. T. Singleton is caretaker on Prescott end and Sid Simpson on the Jerome end.

Ash Fork-Prescott: 2 sections. Melvin Hoopes is caretaker on the Ash Fork end, and W. B.. Wren on the Chino Valley end.

Ash Fork-Peach Springs: 2 sections. W. T. Matheny is caretaker from Ash Fork to Seligman, and B. P. Davis from Seligman to Peach Springs.

Peach Springs-Topock: 4 sections. J. P. Hayes is caretaker from Peach Springs to Hackberry, and John Grelle from Hackberry to Kingman. Henry Sharp, caretaker from Kingman to Oatman, and H. L. Wilson from Oatman to Topock.

Flagstaff-Ash Fork: 3 sections. W. S. Davis is caretaker from Flagstaff to Maine, and Bert L. Brown from Maine to Williams. Wm. Smith is caretaker from Williams to Ash Fork.

A survey party headed by Mr. Allison will begin an eighteen mile survey near Peach Springs within ten days with a view to bringing this section of U. S. Route 66 across the Hualpai Indian Reservation up to Federal Aid standards.

DISTRICT NO. 2 GEORGE B. SHAFFER DISTRICT ENGINEER

Regular maintenance work is being carried on over entire district, which is divided into twelve sections with as many caretakers. Mitchell on the north. They meet at Yarnell.

PHOENIX-YUMA: from Phoenix to Hassayampa is a part of L. W. Statler's paved section. From Hassayampa to twelve miles north of Gila Bend is in charge of Ed Ruppers. C. S. Harrington takes over at above point and carries on to Piedra. Tom Storey is caretaker from Piedra to Yuma County line, where C. O. Elkins takes charge and maintains as far as Mohawk. From Mohawk to Yuma city limits is divided between A. Renner on the Mohawk end and F. O. Deberry on the Yuma end. They meet at Welton.

CHANDLER-CASA GRANDE: beginning at the end of pavement 4 miles south of Chandler and ending at Casa Grande the section is in charge of Henry Dixon.

PHOENIX-DESERT WELLS. This paved section is in charge of L. W. STATLER in addition to the paved sections on the Phoenix-Yuma and the Phoenix-Prescott Highways.

Extra Gang Working on Repairs The work of widening the road and improving the alignment on the Wickenburg-Hot Springs Jet. Highway near Allah, where a washout occurred last spring, is proceeding favorably.

Traffic control is exercised on Tuesdays and Fridays from 100 p. m.: for a period of one to three hours. The improved alignment necessitates side hill rock cutting up to fifty-six feet. The work is in charge of John Webster.

New Construction The Sacaton-Picacho Highway Sec. No. 1 is completed to mile 5 and the rough grading is in place as far as mile 8.

This road will be temporarily opened to accommodate visitors to the Pageant at Casa Grande Ruins.

W. D. Moss, general foreman, is in charge of this work.

Maintenance to Hot Springs Jct. is maintained by Chas. Carpenter. Ed Weldon is in charge of the next section from Hot Springs Jct. to the Maricopa-Yavapai line, three miles north of Wickenburg. From the county line to the beginning of the Forest section, 16 miles from Prescott, the remaining forty miles is split into two sections with A. J. Henderson on the south end and R. L.

The Sacaton-Picacho Highway Sec. No. 2: Joe DeArozena is moving an outfit to this section and will start grading and drainage from Randolph south.

Reconstruction The work of improving the drainage on the Casa Grande-Red Rock Highway is proceeding favorably. The short fords on the project are being replaced by longer ones which will greatly improve the riding qualities. Jess. B. Hedgpeth, general foreman, is in charge of this job.

DISTRICT NO. 3 W. R. HUTCHINS DISTRICT ENGINEER

Cutter to Coolidge Dam under construction.

Bids 8.0 miles Duncan West; bids open; no contract awarded to date.

Extra crew starting from Miami to Bylas. Survey being made on MiamiGlobe Highway.

U. S. ROUTE No. 180. The maintenance in District No. 3 is divided into 13 maintenance camps.

The section from Superior to Miami is in charge of Tom Reed as caretaker. From Globe to Rice is in charge of J. M. Collins as caretaker. From Rice to Safford is divided into two sections in carge of J. J. N. Holyoak and J. N. Fine respectively as caretakers. Safford to the Arizona-New Mexico state line east of Duncan is divided into two sections, with Wm. Bingham and S. W. Dunegan as caretakers.

STATE ROUTE No. 71. From the Duncan-Clifton Junction west of Solomonville to Clifton is in charge of Chas. Perry as caretaker.

STATE ROUTE No. 81. From Safford to junction with east and west road Bowie-Wilcox is in charge of J. M. Scan lett as caretaker.

STATE ROUTE No. 88. Apache Tra-The Apache Trail is divided into thr sections, Globe to Roosevelt Dam is charge of J. M. Sanders as caretake From Roosevelt Dam to Apache Jun tion is in charge of J. L. Brimhall ar Henry Mitchell.

DISTRICT NO. 4 T. S. O'CONNELL DISTRICT ENGINEER

Maintenance Ordinary maintenance crews work entire mileage. Mobile extra gang wing entire distance on shoulder drainage and surface work on paving. Marion Taylor is in charge.' U. S. ROUTE NO. 80. The section from end of pavement at Desert Well through Apache Junction to asphalt pavement five miles west of Florence Junction is in charge of W. C. Kempton. J. A. Cardin meets W. C. Kempton

November, 1927

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS

Has charge of the section through Flor-ence Junction to the Gila River bridge, one mile west of Florence.

The road from Florence to Tucson is divided into three sections. J. B. Bourne has the first section, H. B. Hall the middle section and J. W. Horton the section adjacent to Tucson.

From Tucson to Douglas the road is divided into four sections. A. V. Lemons has the first section, J. I. Archer the second, E. H. Tilton the third and M. H. Dulaney the last section.

Grey Davis and Bert Click divide the 48 miles from Douglas to the New Mexico line near Rodeo.

U. S. ROUTE NO. 89. Two crews handle the 68 miles from Tucson to Nogales. D. O. Mumford has that section adjacent to Tucson and Wm. Lowe the section closer to Nogales.

STATE ROUTE NO. 83. From the Location Engineer, surveying from Douglas east toward New Mexico line.

Survey crew under J. W. McFarland, Location Engineer, surveying from Nogales north toward Tucson.

DISTRICT NO. 5 W. R. HUTCHINS DISTRICT ENGINEER

Survey from Winslow-Holbrook. Bridge over Little Colorado River, advertised for bids Oct. 10, 1927. Temporary repairs being made to present bridge.

Extra maintenance crew from Holbrook to Hunt.

U. S. ROUTE No. 66. The maintenance work is divided into 13 mountainous sections:Flagstaff to Winslow is divided into

The MANUFACTURING STA "ARIZONA'S GREATEST COMMERCIAL THREE SEVENTEEN WEST ADAMS STREET, WESTERN PIPE & S

Arizona Highway Department, which houses also the offices of the Land and Water Departments and the Board of Directors of State Institutions. The State Land and Water Department and the Board of Directors of State Institutions elected to remain in the present quarters in the general office building of the Arizona Highway Department and the additional space made necessary to house these offices will be used by the Department.

The new addition will comprise two stories and a basement, 58 feet in length and 62 feet in width, and will be constructed on the east end of the present office building. The basement will house the new laboratory, with the general offices on the first floor and the new drafting room on the second floor.

The addition will be of reinforced concrete frame and cement tile filler walls to match the present building.

AUTO RACES AGAIN FEATURE ON LAST DAY OF STATE FAIR

Auto races in which the fastest dirt track drivers in America will compete will again be one of the features of the twenty-third annual Arizona State Fair, Secretary J. P. Dillon announced. Walter Righetti will be directly in charge of the races which will be held on Saturday of Fair Week. The races will be run under the supervision of the A. A. A. and will be open to any driver in the country, it was announced.

Approximately $2,100 in prizes will be offered the drivers, it was announced. In view of the fact that the majority of the events will be over short distances, the money offered is said to be more than ample.

The big race of the day will be a 25-mile free for all. Other events on the Saturday program will be a 10-mile dash, Australian pursuit race, and five mile dash. This program is expected to appeal to the boys with the fast cars -the kind that take the turns on two wheels.

Many of Arizona's best known drivers are already working on their machines, while several will have new gas buggies ready for the State Fair races. This means that many of the old hacks, seen around here since the territorial days, will not be among those present when the starter sends the boys away.

Leon Jacobs, A. A. A. representative in Arizona, will be in charge of all arrangements for the modified stock car race. The names of officials and drivers will be announced later.