YUMA HIGHWAY COMPLETION OPENS FAST TRAF-FIC ROUTE

Yuma Highway Completion Opens Fast Traffic Route DISTRICT NO. 1

Geo. B. Shaffer, District Engineer The west side of the district is a line beginning at the northwest corner of Arizona which is the southwest corner of Utah and is on the east boundary of Nevada. The line runs thence south between Arizona and Nevada to the center line of the Colorado River which is the natural dividing line between Arizona and Nevada, thence along the meandering center line of the Colorado River which passes through the proposed Boulder Canyon Dam now under construction, to a point where the southerly line of Nevada, which is the northeasterly line of California, intersect the center line of the Colorado River; thence along the meandering of the river which is the boundary line between Arizona and California to the southwest corner of Arizona, thence southeasterly along the boundary line between Arizona and Sonora, Mexico, to a point south of Ajo; thence northerly through Ajo, Gila Bend and Hassayampa; thence northeast to the north line of Maricopa County Line; thence east to the southeast corner of Yavapai Co., thence north and west along the east and north side of Yavapai Co., to a point 2.4 mi. east of Ash Fork; thence north and west to the Utah State Line and thence west to the place of beginning.

The principal highway routes passing through District No. 1 are: U. S. 80Phoenix-Yuma; U. S. 60-Phoenix-Wickenburg-Blythe; U. S. 89-Phoenix-Wickenburg, Prescott-Ash Fork; U. S. 66-- Ash Fork-Topock, U. S. 91-Los AngelesSalt Lake City and State Route 79Prescott-Jerome-Flagstaff.

The district engineer has charge of all field projects such as construction, betterment, and maintenance after they have been duly approved by the general office heads and has for assistants, resident engineers, extra gang foreman and patrol foremen to look after all contract betterment and maintenance jobs respectively. Emergency and special duties are delegated to men qualified as resident engineers. Each one covers two districts.

The District Clerk with the aid of an office force handles the office work of all districts.

Improvements on U. S. 80

During the fiscal year ending July 1, 1931, 67 miles of oil surfaced highway was constructed on U. S. Route 80-F. A. P. 26-D 55 & 56, between Yuma and Phoenix, six miles of which was graded, drained and surfaced prior to oiling. This six miles section being between Wellton and Ligurta on F. A. P. 26-D.

One five and one six span 6'x10' box culverts were constructed across Stoval Wash-F. A. P. 55 replacing two obsolete ford crossings. One forty-four and one sixty-six foot bridges were constructed a short distance west of Gila BendF. A. P. 56. Before the construction of these bridges the streams had frequently menaced the movement of traffic. A 400' Class "A" concrete dip was constructed about six miles east of Gila Bend. This dip replaces an old culvert which was washed out as a result of a cloudburst and canal break. The uncertainty of the drainage at this point made it advisable to replace the old culvert with a concrete dip.

During February, 1931 the heaviest rain storm of recent years struck the vicinity of Wellton. Twenty miles of the highway was badly damaged but was immediately put back into shape by extra gang forces. The Southern Pacific railroad which is located just above the highway suffered much more damage. The Railroad Company has been working steadily since February on replacement, flood protection and flood control.

That part of U. S. 80--Phoenix-Yuma, which is in Dist. No. 1 extends from Yuma to Hassayampa and is 153 miles in length. Two Maintenance Patrol Foremen having sections of about equal length, have maintained the sections for the past fiscal year.

On U. S. Route 60 also Route 89Phoenix-Wickenburg F. A. P. 84 & 76, 22.5 miles of oil surfacing was started prior to July 1, 1930 but the greater part of the work was done during the fiscal year ending July 1, 1931. The improvement starts at the end of the concrete pavement, four miles north of Marinette and extends to Hot Springs Junction. The remaining 10.5 miles F. A. P. 59 between Hot Springs Junction and Wickenburg is now under construction and is about 15 per cent complete. The improvement consists of oil processing the entire distance three line revisions requiring heavy earth work and the construction of a six span 132' concrete bridge.

When this contract is completed the fifty-two mile route between Phoenix and Wickenburg will be a finished dustless highway. Six hundred feet of guard fence and 100 units of flood protection gutters were placed by extra gang.

U. S. Route 60-Wickenburg-Blythe is a distance of approximately 120 miles (Wickenburg to the Colorado River). Ten miles have been built to standard prior to 1930. Forty-seven miles divided into five sections is now under construction and are as follows: F. A. P. 98-B Aguilla 5.7 mi. east F. A. P. 98-E. Salome 8.25 miles west of Vicksburg, F. A. P. 98-F, Vicksburg 11.0 miles west, F. L. H. 1-A, Quartzsite 14.5 miles east and F. L. H. 1-C Quartzsite 5.1 miles west.

The section, Aguilla 5.7 miles east is to be graded, drained and surfaced and is about 10 per cent complete.

Section-Salome 8.25 mi. west to Vicksburg and from Vicksburg 11.0 miles west is to be graded, drained and surfaced. Although all preliminary work was completed during this fiscal year, only a substantial start has been made.

All preliminary work on Sections Quartzsite 7.2 miles west and Quartzsite 14.5 miles east were completed during

JULY, 1931 ARIZONA HIGHWAYS Page Five

this fiscal year only substantial starts have been made on them to date. These two sections will be graded, drained and oil processed. Standard Maintenance Equipment handled by two Patrol Foremen have maintained the highway from Marinette to the Colorado River. U. S. Route 89-Wickenburg-Prescott 61 miles has been maintained to standard by two Patrol Foremen. Two miles of oil treatment was placed just south of Prescott and about 2,000 ft. of Guard Fence was placed on Yarnell Hill, by extra gang.

Hackberry. The new construction changes the highway to the north side of the Santa Fe R. R. and crosses Hackberry Wash with a high type bridge, thereby eliminating two dangerous grade crossings and one bad ford crossing. The project is about 65 per cent complete. Over a distance of about 14.0 miles on both sides of Gold Roads Hill, many sharp curves and narrow places were improved. It was heavy rock work and a good showing was made at an expenditure of about $18,000. State Forces at about the same time surfaced 16.5 miles F. A. P. 39, between Oatman and Topock which was later oil processed and the local maintenance forces have just completed widening the shoulders. The east half of the Colorado River Bridge at Topock was redressed with emulsifed Asphalt penetration process.

1 inch armour coat between Clarkdale and Cottonwood and installed 12 units of flood protection at the highway culvert in Cottonwood. States forces also did ditch improvement and widening of Road bed in Yeager Canyon on Mingus Mountain. About $17,000 was spent on this work.

Correct Parts Orders Would Help To Prevent Mistakes In Warehouse

U. S. Route 89-Prescott-Ash Fork, 50 miles have been maintained to standard. A distance of 4.3 miles, F. A. P. 62-A from Ash Fork is now being oil processed. The section was widened to 24 foot standard by state forces and the oil processing is now about 75 per cent complete. The bad approach to Big Hell Canyon bridge and the sharp curve at Johnson Creek were eliminated by the removal of about 8000 cubic yards of rock and earth. U. S. 66-Beginning at the Coconino county line east of Ash Fork and extending west 173 miles to the Colorado River. Two Sections one F. A. P. 89-B beginning at Ash Fork and extending 2.4 miles east to the Coconino Co. Line and the other F. A. P. 80-C, beginning at Ash: Fork and extending 6.1 miles west to Pineveta are now being oil processed and are about 85 per cent complete. The section F. A. P. 57, Pineveta-Crookton 9.3 miles is under contract and is about 5 per cent complete. This project widened to 24 foot standard and one cattle guard standardized by state forces. The project was also surfaced during the last fiscal year. The remaining 8.8 mile section, F. A. P. 80-B between Crookton and Seligman is now under contract and is being graded, drained and surfaced including an overpass across the Santa Fe R. R. at Crookton. The project is started and about 5 per cent complete. The section from Seligman to Chino Point F. A. P. 80-D, 7.4 miles was constructed during this fiscal year. It was graded, drained and surfaced on new location which eliminated two railroad grade crossings. It also shortened the original line. Through Aubrey and Pica Valley for a distance of 6.6 miles the highway was surfaced by state forces. Two railroad grade crossings are now being eliminated through the construction of F. A. P. 80-E, 4.4 miles near Hack-The Highway from Ash Fork has been regularly maintained by state mainten-ance forces. U. S. Route 91, F. A. P. 92-Utah State Line to Nevada. State Line 17 mis. Regular state maintenance through the year. State Route 79-Prescott-Jerome-Flag-staff. Prescott-Coconino Co. Line 60 miles. Regular maintenance was carried on throughout the year. State forces constructed 2.6 miles of

By A. H. LIND Warehouse Superintendent

The general warehouse of the Arizona Highway Department at Phoenix, is called upon to fill a great many requisitions each day, for a wide variety of supplies and automobile and machinery parts, tires, etc.

To fill intelligently all of these requisitions it is necessary for us to know the make and type of equipment that supplies or parts are ordered for. It is also necessary in most cases that we know the equipment number of the piece of equipment for which parts or supplies are desired.

In a great many cases requisitions are received which fail to state all of the above details, and it is then necessary for us to determine, if possible, just what kind of parts or materials should be furnished. We are nearly always able to furnish the correct materials because of our general knowledge of the equipment being operated by the department. It would cause less detail work for us, however, if each person writing a requisition for supplies and parts would state explicitly just what is required and always state the equipment number of the equipment for which parts or supplies are ordered, or if the person charged with the authority to approve such requisitions would see that all requisitions are properly made out when approving same. We are requesting the co-operation of all departments to give us all necessary information on their requisitions and feel that our services will be greatly improved, if this is done.

The automobile dealers claim the "hoss trader" of old didn't have a thing on Chairman Addams of the highway commission, when he starts trading a wreck off the junk pile on a new car.