2d Session. No. 298. BRIDGE ACROSS MOENCOPI WASH, LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, TRANSMITTING A REPORT ON THE INVESTIGATION OF THE CONDITIONS ON THE WESTERN NAVAJO INDIAN RESERVATION, IN ARIZONA, WITH RESPECT TO THE NECESSITY OF CONSTRUCTING A BRIDGE ACROSS THE MOENCOPI WASH, ON SAID RESERVATION, ETC. DECEMBER 1, 1913.-Referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs and ordered to be printed, with illustrations. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SIR: The Indian appropriation act for the current fiscal year, approved June 30, 1913 (Public, No. 4, p. 9), contains the following item: The Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized and directed to make an investigation of the conditions on the Western Navajo Indian Reservation, in Arizona, with respect to the necessity of constructing a bridge across the Moencopi Wash, on said reservation, and also to cause surveys, plans, and reports to be made, together with an estimated limit cost for the construction of a suitable bridge at that place, and submit his report thereon to Congress on the first Monday in December, nineteen hundred and thirteen, and the sum of $1,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated for the purpose herein authorized. The agency for the Western Navajo Indian Reservation is located at Tuba, 76.6 miles from Flagstaff, Ariz., a station on the Santa Fe Railroad. All freight for the north country is hauled from Flagstaff over a road established by the Mormons more than 40 years ago. This road from Flagstaff to Tuba has been used by all travelers since that time, including Indians. The road crosses the Little Colorado River at Tanners Crossing, 54 miles north of Flagstaff, and it crosses the Moencopi Wash at a point approximately 17 miles north of the Little Colorado River. A large watershed, north and east drains into the Moencopi Wash. The flood, season includes July, August, and September, and there are occasional storms during the remainder of the year. At the site for the proposed bridge the width of the wash is approximately 68 feet at the surface line, with a depth of 13 feet at the center of the stream. It is necessary to cross the Moencopi Wash in order to reach Tuba from the railroad. When a representative of the Indian service reached Tuba on September 14 of this year to investigate conditions the Moencopi Wash could not be forded at that time, and it was reported to him that it had been impossible to ford the stream at any time during the preceding 20 days. In April last the Government constructed a temporary wooden bridge across the Moencopi Wash, which has been in use since that time. This temporary bridge is built in two sections, with a stone and concrete pier supporting the ends of the two sections. This center pier obstructs the flow of the stream in flood times, and trunks and limbs of large trees float down the stream from many miles above, which would doubtless have washed out the center pier had they not been discovered and taken out before the highest stage was reached. During the fiscal year 1912 a steel suspension bridge 660 feet in length was constructed across the Colorado River at Tanners Crossing at a cost of $84,000. It was considered necessary to construct this bridge at Tanners Crossing so as to make it possible to cross the river at all seasons of the year, and the bridge has proved of great benefit. From 75 to 90 per cent of the travel across the bridge at Tanners Crossing must cross the Moencopi Wash, and it is necessary that a permanent structure be provided across the latter stream. While the temporary bridge has been very helpful, there is great danger of it being washed out during the flood season. A permanent structure can be provided at comparatively small cost. There are inclosed copies of reports of September 27 and October 29, 1913, by Supervisor of Construction John Charles, of the Indian service, who made an investigation of the conditions, together with copies of the specifications and blue-print copies of the plans, etc. The general plans submitted contemplate a structure with a steel span 72 feet in length and a roadway of 16 feet, with concrete abutments, at a total cost of $5,880. Respectfully, FRANKLIN K. LANE. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. SIR: Replying to office letter dated October 13, 1913, relative to the exact location of bedrock at the point where the north abutment. of the proposed Moencopi Wash bridge is found, you are informed that the bedrock dips as it runs north and is reported to be 21 feet 8 inches below the surface at the point measured. The estimate anticipated the possibility of this condition, and no further provision is necessary. Respectfully, JOHN CHARLES, Supervisor of Construction. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, Denver, Colo., September 27, 1913. The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, Washington, D. C. SIR: I have visited the Western Navajo Reservation, Ariz., for the purpose of investigating the conditions there with respect to the necessity of constructing a bridge across Moencopi Wash on said reservation, as directed in office letter dated July 11, 1913. The Western Navajo Indian Agency is located at Tuba, 76.6 miles north from Flagstaff, Ariz., a station on the Santa Fe Railroad. All freight for the country north is hauled from this station. The wagon road from Flagstaff to Tuba was established by the Mormons more than 40 years ago, and has been used by all travelers, including Indians, since that time. This road crosses the Little Colorado River (Tanners Crossing) at a point 54 miles north from Flagstaff and Moencopi Wash, approximately 17 miles north of the river. (Distance recorded on Government automobile speedometer.) The Moencopi Wash carries the flood water from a large watershed north and east of the proposed crossing, the flood season being July, August, and September, with occasional storms during the remainder of the year. The width of this wash at the proposed crossing is approximately 68 feet at the surface line by 13 feet deep at center of stream. This wash must be crossed in reaching Tuba from the railroad. The writer reached Tuba on September 14. The wash could not be forded at that time, and it was reported that it had been impossible to ford the stream at any time during 20 days preceding my visit. A temporary wooden bridge was constructed there by the Government in April last and is now in use. This bridge is built in two sections, a stone and concrete center pier supporting the ends of the two sections. This bridge has made it possible to cross the wash at all times during the present year. The center pier obstructs the flow in flood times, as trunks and limbs of large trees float down this stream from 50 or 75 miles above. On September 7 a flood came down bringing trees measuring 25 feet and 35 feet in length. A number of these trunks lodged against this center pier in advance of the crest of the flood, and, being discovered, were hauled out on the banks before the highest stage had been reached. A quantity of smaller limbs and trash lodged against this pier and was found there at the time of my visit. The water reached the lower edge of the timber supporting the joist, but did not reach the floor of the bridge. I am of the opinion that if the trees had not been removed the bridge would have been washed away. At a previous visit to Tuba the writer was detained eight days on account of high water in this wash. The crossing was finally made by team, and could not have been made by automobile for several days after that time. A steel suspension bridge 660 feet in length was constructed over the Little Colorado River near Tanners Crossing during the fiscal year 1912, at a cost of $84,000. This bridge was considered necessary to make it possible to cross this river at all seasons of the year, and this proved a great benefit. From 75 to 90 per cent of the travel over this bridge must cross the Moencopi Wash at the point selected for this proposed bridge. A permanent structure is necessary here, in my opinion. The site now occupied by the wooden bridge is the very best that can be found. The crossing selected by the Mormons is located a short distance below this site, and was evidently selected because a sandstone formation was found here, with flat sloping banks on the south side, which made a favorable approach. The bank on the north side is of adobe, and an approach was excavated at a grade that could be used for hauling loads. This north bank washes out with each flood, when it was found necessary to regrade the wagon approach. The bridge site is at a point where the bank of this sandstone formation is more abrupt and the stream is narrower, making it more favorable for construction. I am of the opinion that a single-span riveted steel bridge should be constructed here, supported on concrete abutments without center pier. The floor level should be raised approximately 5 feet above the floor of the present wooden structure to provide space for floating objects in flood time. It costs $1.25 per 100 pounds to haul freight from Flagstaff to Tuba. The bridge site is 5.1 miles nearer the railroad, but as steel structural work usually costs more per 100 pounds to handle than ordinary freight on account of its irregular form, it would probably cost about the same price to haul this material the shorter distance. Excellent volcanic stone chips suitable for concrete work are found scattered on the desert. This can be delivered at the bridge site by Indians for approximately $3 per cubic yard. There is no coarse sand in this vicinity. There is an abundance of fine but clean sand within one-half mile of the bridge site, and can be delivered at the site by Indians at $1 per cubic yard. Plans, specifications, and estimate of cost of the above-described bridge are submitted in triplicate as directed. The work of grading is not included in the specifications for bridge, as this work will be done by Indian teams and can be done under the direction of the superintendent at actual cost. The specifications request estimates on steel joist and wood joist separately. Preference should be given to steel joist if the price is within the estimate. Test holes are being made to ascertain the exact location of bedrock at the point where north abutment is to be located. The information has not been received at this writing, and a specified price per cubic yard has been requested for adding to or deducting from the amount of concrete required by the drawings. Respectfully, JOHN CHARLES, Supervisor of Construction. SPECIFICATIONS FOR FURNISHING AND ERECTING A STEEL HIGHWAY BRIDGE WITH CONCRETE ABUTMENTS OVER THE MOENCOPIE WASH ON THE WESTERN NAVAJO RESERVATION NEAR TUBA, ARIZ. The site for the proposed bridge is about 714 miles north of Flagstaff, Ariz., the nearest railroad point. It is the duty of bidders to acquaint themselves with the general local conditions as regards cost of hauling, local labor, etc. Bids |