October 2, 1952
Two Commissioners Join in Construction To Start October 15
Presidio, September 30 — Presidio and Marfa will be connected by a direct river road to the Big Bend National Park soon. The combined equipment and road building facilities of the precincts represented by Commissioners Dr. Clyde Vaught of Presidio and Enrique Madrid of Redford will be used to improve a new Presidio county road beginning at the western extreme of the Fowlkes Brothers ranch near the Luz del Desierto (Light of the Desert) and ending about 28 miles east near Lajitas.
The road improvement project, which is expected to begin about October 15, will follow the route of a narrow jeep trail constructed by the bureau of animal industry to facilitate the vehicular patrol of the border river section in recent attempts to prevent crossing of cattle from Mexico as a measure of control in the quarantine against the foot-and-mouth disease.
Aside from opening a Western travel route from the Big Bend National park, the new road will serve as a highway of rugged scenic beauty to the tourist; encourage mineral exploration, and present virgin fishing spots along the Rio Grande to the followers of the sport of Isaac Walton. Access to the grazing fields of elusive deer in the mountainous area will be another asset of the road to hunters during the open seasons. The entire trail is marked by massive and odd rock formations, colorful cliffs and deep canyons.
One thrilling feature of the road is at a point where it crosses through a high mountain pass about 15 miles west of Lajitas. Here the road rises sharply in a winding fashion to a height of about 1200 feet above where the Rio Grande courses through a narrow canyon. The sight is breath-taking and the trip through the narrow, boulder strewn pass must be negotiated slowly and with extreme care by travelers at the present time.
Only jeeps and pickup trucks are recommended for traversing the route until the projected road improvement work is completed. Several months will be required to put the road in condition for passenger car traffic.
