Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1912-07-26
WIDESPREAD INTEREST
IN BETTER HIGHWAYS
Former State Engineer, Chas.
D. Miller, gives interest
ing Road Facts
RAPID DEVELOPMENT
The Road Building of New
Mexico is of Supreme
Importance.

In looking over the records of
the engineers Office dating back
two years. it is surprising to note
what progress has taken place in
actual road construction during the
years 1911 and 1912. Practically
three fOurths of the construction
work has taken place within this
short period. Examples of road
construction have been placed in
almost every county in the state,
and those counties which have not
secured such work from the state
road commission can blame only
themselves, as every county that
made any show of cooperation or
desire to secure an appropriation
from the state by helping them
selves, has without exception been
assisted very materially. The ac-
tual demonstration of highway
construction has been restricted in
location so as to show the best re-
suits in permanence Of construction
and to set an example of economy
in administration and the use of
money. The old policy Of hit and
miss, scattering road funds to the
four ends of the county and build
ing roads which have TO be rebuilt
every year, has been dispensed
with, and sueh roads as have been
built in each county have been
built for all time If the mainten-
ance is handled properly by local
authorities.
The effect of such road building
in the different counties can hardly
be over estimated. We feel that
the road laws passed by the last
legislature were a result of this
demonstration of scientific road
: building. OF course. some of this
may be due to the campaigns OF
publicity which eastern states are
making, but we feel that were il
not for the fact that this road con
l struction has taken place in every
. county, very little of the substan
tial Legislation would have been ac
: complished.
, Two years work in the construc
D ton of roads has resulted in tn,
y law authorizing a bond issue, sub
4 ject to the approval of the people
of $5O0.000. A very small amount
: perhaps, but to New Mexico, par
t ticularly in the building of high
e ways, it means remarkable strid
forward.
4 This fall a definite system of stat
!. highways, connecting the countie
% with each other, so that work wi
take place in all parts of the state
Il will be formulated. These stat,
Il roads will also be arranged fo
"a transcontinental routes. altho thi
/ matter will be given secondary cor
Il sideration. The money derive
' from bond issue will be appol
r. toned to each county, to be e,
,r pended toward each county's POI
III ton of such system, under the $,
ID pervision OF the state highway con
mission. 1t is confidently hope,
re and seems almost sure that Il
" bond issue so provided will carry
g a very large majority. When Il
m counties get twenty or thirty thou
and dollars each for building
main highways, it would be a vel
backward county that would n
re avail itself of this opportunity, pa
ne ticularly when the interest and sin
V. ing fund and all expenses incrffr'
lie by such bond issue has been pr
tn vided for by taxes which have ,
d. ready been levied, and there will
NJ be no additional tax for the bol
issue.