The Genesis of Arizona Highways

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS RICE-SAFFORD-DUNCAN ROUTE

The lower half of the map shows a profile of a greatly distorted scale. This profile is for the purpose of showing the elevations along the route and for comparisons of elevations with other routes. The elevation datum being mean sea level. Care has been taken, and all available data utilized to determine the general profile of the route as accurately as possible.

conditions to Duncan and the New Mexico line first, and then take the tourist to Clifton and back to Duncan over the Clifton-Duncan road, Starting at the junction of the two roads the State is now completing a 14 mile stretch of standard Federal Aid road toward Duncan. From the end of this project into Duncan, a distance of about 12.5 miles, there is at present a good county road. A survey party has just been sent out on this section, and work should be started within the next year with the idea of bringing it up to state standard.

Duncan, is a small farming community in the Gila River and is the rail head for a farming district that extends 15 to 20 miles along the Gila. About 20,000 acres are under irrigation in the district, water being diverted from the Gila River by means of brush dams. From Duncan, through Franklin and on to the New Mexico line is a well kept gravel road. The State Line is about seven miles East of Duncan,

LOG OF ROAD RICE TO NEW MEXICO LINE

SAFFORD-CLIFTON

CLIFTON-DUNCAN-STATE LINE

From the junction of the Clifton and Duncan roads, the road toward Clifton is rather rough for about four miles. At this point the tourist starts climbing over a well graded but crooked mountain road. The grades, however, do not exceed six per cent and the road bed is in excellent condition. At the summit, 12 miles from the Junction, one of the most beautiful panoramic views in Arizona is unfolded. The road from here winds down the mountain side, crosses the Gila River, and then climbs through the foothills to a high mesa above Clifton. From the top of the mesa into Clifton, the road is again very crooked, though the grades are not excessive. It is interesting to note that on this stretch of road was constructed the first grade-separation between highway and railroad in the State.

Clifton, a town of about 4,000 population is the oldest and prettiest copper mining camp in Arizona. Though the mines proper are now situated at Mor-