Development of Road Around Mountains Asked

Funds Lacking for Lucerne-Twentynine Route Surfacing
Proposal to surface material and dirt roads leading from Barstow to Lucerne Valley and from Lucerne Valley to Twentynine palms was presented to the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors yesterday by a delegation of desert and mountain community resident.

Godfrey V. Wickware of Lucerne Valley, chairman of the newly found mountain-desert highway improvement committee and spokesman for the group, told supervisors that the project would involve surfacing approximately 80 miles of road and would cost an estimated $300,000 to $400,000.

Attract Tourists
The present condition of the road forces residents of the Twentynine Palms and adjacent desert areas who wish to go to the mountain resort to drive many miles out of their way. Mr. Wickware stated. He pointed out that improvement of the thoroughfare would also attract many tourists over the back route to the San Bernardino mountains, a route that he termed “one of the most scenic in the country.”

LT. Col. R. B. Warye, representing them Marine corps storage and repair depot in Barstow, told supervisors that surfacing of the road from Barstow to Lucerne Valley would mean a four hour reduction in time needed to move Marine firefighting equipment to the mountain area and a two hour reduction in the transportation of men to combat any blazes.

Funds Allocated
Board Chairman Frank H mobile pointed out that any improvement of the road will be impossible.

For the current fiscal year since highway funds have already been allocated but that servicing of portions of the thoroughfare might be included in future highway budgets. Delegates include E.F. Manners president of the Barstow chamber of commerce; Dick Curtis president of Pioneertown; E.N. Haley of Big Bear Lake; William E. Miller of Lucerne Valley; H.B. Sherman of 29 palms; lieutenant Colonel Warye and Mr. Wickware.