Show NEW BRIDGE AT LEES ASSUMING SHAPE prom the precipitous walls of grand canyon miles from flagstaff ariz and perhaps the same distance below moab what appears from afar to be a slender spider web gradually Is being stretched across the top of the great chasm this web is actually a massive structure of steel designed to be the highest highway bridge in the world the height from the waters of the colorado river to the roadway grade Is feet completion of the big span about september 1 and of the approaches about january 1 1929 will bring into communication two vast regions hitherto inaccessible to each other except by way of a river ferry and a dangerous strip of mountain road the new route will eliminate the historic lees ferry which has been in service since 1872 6 miles above the site of the bridge where john doyle lee built a cabin and acquired ferry rights formerly possessed by the mormon church lee s first ferry was a clumsy affair the first more serviceable boat being constructed in 1873 by john L blythe this was a barge 20 by 40 feet capable of carrying two loaded wagons and teams after changing hands several times the ferry and all rights were acquired by coconino county ariz which now operates it under toll the new highway structure opens up a region that Is little known to tourists and in which travel has been for the most part limited to traders and indians A strip of painted desert lies along one side between flagstaff and the bridge and on the utah side are the bryce canon the kaibab national forest cedar brakes alon national park and the scenic beauty of the grand canyon itself the main span Is a deck arch of feet the arch being of the three hinge type with battered trusses designed with reversal stresses for cantilever erection the bridge will be feet long mr and mrs ralph miller returned yesterday from ohio where they were called by the serious illness of mr miners father J P miller when they left mr miller sr was gradually improving and Is counting the days until he can return to moab |