Semi-weekly herald., 1911-05-25
THE CIRCLE HIGHWAY.
Meeting With State Road Commis-
sioners Held Monday Night.

house Monday night to meet with Mr.
Allen and Mr.. Tulley, members of the
state highway commission, to talk
over the matter of the proposed bui'd-
ing of great state road. which would
open this part of the state to tourist
travel, and there was just abous as
great number OF different idea as
there were persons present.
The state commission members
came down here with the idea of ex-
planning to the people of la Plata
county that they had certain sum
of money, and the labor Of certain
number of convicts, to disburse and
that they were willing to place spe-
OF "A certain number of convicts at
our service for the purpose of build
ing one of the sections of great
state highway which would, when
completed, form great circle route
leading from the state capitol and
taking in this portion of the state, a
read over which tourists might travel
and see the glories of the district.
County Commissioner Scouton acted
as chairman Of the meeting and call
ed the meeting to order. Mr.. Allen,
member of the state board, first ad-
dressed the meeting, he said that it
was the idea of the commission that
they lend such aid as they could, and
give US all the financial support pos
sible, for the building of our link in
the proposed road chain connecting us
with the outer world.
State Commissioner Tulley then ad-
dressed the meeting. He told us that
the commission would have anywhere
from 100000 to 100000 to expend
this year in the good roads work.
He also said that the commission was
willing to give La Plata county one
dollar for every dollar, up to $1,000,
the county would raise provided the
money was expended in the work of
building its share in the chain of roads
comprising the circle route. He far
tber offered to secure for the work
ccnvicts camp, consisting of some
sixty convicts, which were to be kept
in this portion of the state and work
ed upon the proposed highway for an
indefinite period of time.
The route, as proposed by the men,
bers of the state highway commission,
was mapped from Pagosa Springs to
Durango and from here to Silverton
and thence to Creede. La Plata coun-
ty and San Juan were to join in the
expense of the setting up of the con-
Wet camp, matter of some $1,000,
and the convicts were then to be work
ed equally in the two counties, the
summer months being spent in the
Silverton district and winter months
here. Mr.. Tulley stated that the av-
erage cost, per man, OF the labor of
convict camp, had been found TO be
about " cents per day.
At the close of the talk made by
Mir. Tulley the citizens of the town
und county were invited to express
their opinions, and here business be-
gen. Mr.. Bennett expressed himself
as being opposed to the building of
roads for the benefit of tourists. He
thought that the taxpayers should
have the roads aud he wanted a road
built down in his part of the country
for the use Of the farmers. Mr..
Charlton followed and stated that that
portion of the county in which Mr..
Bennett resided had already received
five dollars in road expenditure for
every dollar they had ever paid in
taxes. Mr.. Bennett filed an exception
to the statement and went home. Mr..
Charlton continued and made a plea
for good roads everywhere in general
and anywhere in particular.
Mr.. Jakway spoke on the great ne
cessity of good road out 10 the Fort
Lewis school and rather felt that the
commission should help in that work
ms the school was not only one, but
one of the most important, of the
state institutions. |
The meeting at this point became
common property and about every one
present made short statement of
their ideas on the proposition. Harry
Jackson made brief good roads plea
and was willing for almost any route
that would lead into, and out of, the
territory adjacent to this city.
The real business of the meeting,
which was to attempt to avoid being
left entirely off the map, so far as
Tho circle state highway is concern
ed, was apparently lost sight Of and Il
general discussion on good roads and
tho success with which farmers could
buck the railroads, by doing their own
transporting of products, became the
topic for about two min
utes.
Frank Eldredge made talk which
brought the meeting back to the fold
and then the discussion Of the build
ing of the Silverton road again be-
came the subject Of conversation and
many of the citizens, too numerous
t, mention. made short addresses