trucks and the public far exceeded that by Tapline and the security patrols. Presently, an average of thirty loaded commercial vehicles pass through Turaif each day en route to points east, with an equal number of vehicles moving west.

With the increase in commercial traffic, Tapline found it necessary to increase the amount of its maintenance to keep the road in good condition. This took the form of smoothing bumps or with patrols of motor-graders, combined with the hauling and spreading of additional material on the road where necessary to maintain an adequate base and stable surface. Compaction of the new material by use of water and heavy rollers was found necessary because of the damaging effect of heavily overloaded commercial trucks using very hard tires.

The importance of the pipe line road as an artery linking Saudi Arabia with countries to the west had become evident to the Saudi Arab Government, which became interested in further improvements to the road to encourage its use by commercial traffic and thereby assist in the economic development of the country.

Discussions in process between the Company and the Government, covering a number of outstanding issues, were culminated by an agreement in March 1963 which settled all issues. Included in this agreement was an undertaking by the Company to improve the pipe line road from Qaisumah to Turaif and surface it with a "bituminous surface treatment, 11 to certain specifications which became a part of the agreement. The portions of the agreement relating to the road improvement and specifications are included herein as an Appendix.