Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-01-18

lContinued from Page SIN

"' N'S'""NVs Hhe NeW MEXICO, are
among the greatest necessities for the
i~urtherance Of commercial and indus.
'rhl enterprises and the future de-
velopment OF the commonwealth, not
to speak OF the convenience TO every
man, woman and child. and the attrac.
tnn they are TO tourist travel.
Iher Is considerable complaint by
citizens and by the press that the
money collected and spent TOR rad
purposes is not as wisely applied as IL
should be, and is not resulting in the
efficient service and the good roads
that modern progress demands. :
therefore earnestly urge you 10 revise
and amend the existing road laws so
that they will meet the demand for
good roads which is becoming more
msent every day.
Scenic Route.
The territory has made s good 10,
ginning toward i%naugurating a system
OF good roads, The legislative assem-
bly, Of 1903. provided for an a%ppropria.
ton In the sum of five thousand dol
lars to be used towards ~defraying the
expense of constructing a public high
way between the city of Santa Fee and
the city OF Las Vegas, and to be
known thereafter as the Scenic
Route" The funds thus provided
We're 20 he used under the direction Of
the superintendent Of the penitentiary,
and for the purpose OF providing nee.
cssary tools, powder, equipment,
guards and other actual and necessary
expense, the labor Of construction to
be provided and done by the territorial
penitentiary. A survey of the route
was made by competent engineers and
a most excellent route selected. There
has been constructed pursuant to the
law thus enacted. at the Las Vegas
end OF the road, about six miles Of ac-
tual new road, which. in connection
with the old road already In existence,
brings the present terminal of the road
about fifteen miles from the city of
Las Vegas. 1t is a most excellent
piece Of permanent roadway, very IA
vorably commented upon by good road
experts. Upon the Santa Fe end of
the route, construction work Is now
being carried on at the end Of the
road, about five miles beyond the Dal-
ton Divide and within sight of the
upper Pecos valley.
This road connects with the santa
Fe Canyon road leading from the dty
Of Santa Fee and Is now built to a els.
lance of approximately twenty miles,
from this city. The, amount of ac.
tual new construction, therefore. has
been approximately ten miles, nearly
all OF it on the mountain sides, the
material encountered having been al
most uniformly of solid rock. thus
making the progress slow and the ex-
pense much greater than anticipated.
The superintendent of the penitenti-
airy reports that the appropriation pro-
vided Is wholly inadequate and that
for the completion Of this road an ad-
ditional appropriation will be required
of not less than five thousand dollars,
In addition to the reimbursement of
the amounts of cash actually expend-
ed by the territorial penitentiary to
supply the deficiency existing during
the past year on account of the made
quate appropriation provided for the
construction of this highway by the
thirty-fifth legislative assembly. This
road when completed will be Of great
value both commercially and for
pleasure seeking, and the manner of
It's construction will mark a new era
In the methods of public road building,
as we'll as solving a much discussed
problem of the utilization of convicts
in the building OF public roads.
The building Of the Scenic Route is
not a mere local improvement hut the
starting point for a territorial system
Of good roads whose branches will
ultimately extend into every county,
At the same time the question of con.
vict labor is solved very satisfactorily.
The work thus far done and the re.
suits accomplished. have excited the
admiration of the federal good roads
officials and have advertised New
Mexico widely as an up-to.date pro
gressive commonwealth. No further
argument needs TO be advanced to
prove that a system Of territorial
roads and the employment Of the con.
victs al healthful labor without enter
ing them into competition with free
labor. is an end much to be desired by
anv commonwealth. and in the case of
New Mexico especially, viii prove OF
inestimable benefit.
Cattle and Sheep Sanitary Boards.
/ desire to call special attention to
the recommendations of the cattle and
sheep sanitary boards in their reports
hereto annexed. The stock industry
-. ..--.,a-. - Ill - jn.t~slo
in the southwest and whatever legisla-
ton can be devised to further their
growth and prosperity should be
placed upon the statute books.