Editorial

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS
Published in the Interest of Good Roads by the ARIZONA HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Vol. IX JULY, 1933 No. 7 ARIZONA STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION
SHELTON G. DOWELL, Chairman, Douglas
RAY N. VYNE, Vice-Chairman, Prescott
JACOB BARTH, Commissioner, St. Johns
MONTE MANSFIELD. Commissioner, Tucson
C. E. ADDAMS, Commissioner, Phoenix
C. C. JARRETT. Secretary. Mesa
GENERAL OFFICE
T. S. O'CONNELL, State Highway Engineer
SID SMYTH, Deputy State Engineer
E. M. WHITWORTH, Vehicle Superintendent
R. A. HOFFMAN, Bridge Engineer
E. V. MILLER. Engineer of Plans
J. W. POWERS. Engineer of Materials
J. S. MILLS. Engineer of Estimates
H. C. HATCHER. Statistical Engineer
W. H. MURRAY, Superintendent of Stores
M. L. WHEELER, Chief Accountant
C. R. McDOWELL, Patrol Superintendent
J. A. FRAPS, Engineer Certification Board
FIELD ENGINEERS
GEORGE B. SHAFFER District Engineer District No. 1
F. N. GRANT, District Engineer District No. 2
R. C. PERKINS, District Engineer District No. 3
W. R. HUTCHINS, District Engineer District No. 4
PERCY JONES Chief Locating Engineer
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Address All Communications to Editor ARIZONA HIGHWAYS Arizona Highway Department Phoenix, Arizona
LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE
It is recorded that some few score years ago there was in London a very celebrated civil engineer who discouraged a youthful acquaintance from entering the profession because, he said, he had completed the build-ing of all the highways and railroads and water supply systems that England would ever need. But England is still building roads.
There are those in the United States today who apparently take the attitude that America having spent a good many million dollars on highways can afford now to take a vacation and put its money into other projects that we do not need to keep rebuilding to higher standards. There is perhaps as much of folly in their viewpoint as in that of the English engineer.
It is recalled that a third of a century ago America had a superb and adequate railway transportation system, greatest in the world. It was in excellent condition and its equipment was ideal. But railroad standards have changed. What was good in 1900 is more than obsolete today. Roadbeds have been completely rebuilt, equipment has been entirely replaced and operation methods are entirely new. Three great roads even now are talking in terms of light one-hundred-mile-an-hour trains.The same thing will happen to the highways. Not so very many years hence we shall look back on our present systems as infants in their swaddling clothes. Ever increasing requirements to meet the demands for speed and added loads must be fulfilled, and safety must be considered. Already there has been proposed a two-way, two-speed direct route from coast to coast. An ideal highway system of the future may with little imagination be envisioned one adequate to meet the needs of traffic in every area, grade crossings entirely eliminated, properly signed and signalled, comfort stations at intervals, provided with footpaths in congested districts, night-lighted, tree-planted and landscaped, and safe at all hazardous points.
That, perhaps, may be a little visionary today, but tomorrow it may not sound so strange.
OUR COVER PICTURE
The picture on the front cover page of this month's Arizona Highways shows a thunder cloud hovering over Sunset Mountain, one of the most colorful of the many beauty spots in Northern Arizona.
This unusual mountain formation, situated in Coconino County only a few miles from Flagstaff and visible from both U. S. Highway 66 and U. S. Highway 89, is of volcanic origin. The entire outer rim of the extinct crater is composed of bright red ash or cinder, which, surmounting the green of the foliage on the mountainside gives the appearance in all kinds of weather, when the crest is not actually obscured, of a vivid sunset glow at the summit. The illusion persists even with the clouds settling down over the mountain top.
ADVERTISING HOME PRODUCTS
The National Geographic Society pays its respects to Arizona's copper auto license plates.
"In the passing parade of metal tags," says a recent bulletin issued from the Washington, D. C., headquarters of the society, "there is a good deal of geography and some history and romance.
"South Carolina's license plate, across the bottom of which is inscribed: 'The Iodine Products State,' is perhaps the most familiar tag exploiting a particular feature of a state. Even the name of the state is relegated to initials in order to advertise to the world the(Continued on Page 17) SAY BILL LEMME CARRY TH' GUN TINTUH TOWN WILL YUH-HUH?
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