Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-07-15

OF the i've good roads Bills passed
az the last legislature aud approved
by Governor McDonald. the most Inn
portaHt. because tho most far-reach-
Ing IA It's effect h senate blu 40. 1868.
known as the PuDilc Highways act
And PROBABLY the most Important
provision Of this important legislative
act II that which does away with the
old and OutEgown road supervisor
system, aud places the administration
OF the road affairs la each county ln a
county road board.
These county road boards will come
into being on September l0th. which
u ninety days from the date Of tho
approval Of the bill. The bill pro-
viden that Ia each county there shall
be constituted county road board.
consisting OF three members. a. serve
without compensation, 10 be appointed
by the state highway commission for
q period of three years. no two mem
bers going out OF ONCE the same year.
not moro than Two To- be- Of the Same
political party, ana the members TO
bee subject 20 removal by the state
highway commission for cause. These
county road boards are given author
lty TO construct or improve or aid
IN constructing or Improving any road
cor bridge within she county and 10
maintain and repair the same. and
"a select ana lay out system Of pros
pective highways" They ara also
''VeAicd with the powcrs heretofore
conferred by law upon road supcryis-
OrB in the perioup couuliem and shall
be charged with the direction OF tho
work heretofore imposed by law up.
on such road supervisors" Thoy are
TO employ, remove and TX the sal
aries ~ such engineers. foromen. la
borers. ana other employees as may be
necessary 10 carry on their work. and
may assign such duties and delegate
sUrh authority 10 such employees as
they deem advisable"
II viii be- seen that these road
boards are given great authority, and
that they practically control tie mat
ter Of good or bad roads In each
county. Aud Il viii be admitted by
all who ere interested la business
li6c and efficient administration OF our
road funds and OF the road tax that
these county road boards should 30
non p0llticai IN character and should
a. composed of men VINO are vitality
Interested In the road conditions IN
each county.
have boen asked 10 outline a few
suggestions regarding The work OF
these county road boards; and IN
Nenturing 10 de- this, ! approach the
question solely from the standpoint
Of an Interested citizen. aud without
any assumption OF expert engineering
knowledge.
1 believe that one ~ the FIRST inn
porinnt things 10 be undertaken by
ouf touniy road bOaTds viii be FOR
the members to famiiiarize themselves
With the ROAD conditions IN llloir
county n such county road board
can ind u possible 10 visit every Inn
pOriant community IN their country.
and there hold "a punlic meeting to
discuss with the citizens Of that com
munity not only the purpose and ef-
feet OF the new road Laws, but the
wishes Of the people Ia that commun-
n.y. Il VIII accomplish great deal Ia
tbs way Of creating q healthy public
iRtercst IN good rqada IN recent
years. largely through inefficient ad-
minisiration of the county road tar.
our road laws have fallen into ilaro-
pute. al viii require some mission
AIRY work and the arousinE Of some
good roads enthusiasm 10 convince
tho people la many ~ JAR counties
that noW era IA tho matter at road
administrator for New Mexico has
como.
The now boards should also set lnto
close touch with tie county commls-
slonefn Of their roassslea. whO hoFeto-
fore have controlled al road expendi.
tnres. and should work with them as
narmoniouHly as possible. In Urder TO
make the road administration eiree-
i've II - equally necessary for
these county road boards 20 keep
closely In touch with The state high
way commission, since Il is clearly the
Intention " the state highway hillI
That thr state and county authorities
should work fOgeiher IN road matters.
and that the county boalds should
set the bouant ~ lhat expert know
ledge which tpc stale highway com.
lninAlon win on able 20 fpFnislt In
this way tho bpHt methods " cone
STRUGGLING and maintaining our roads
can BE- Followed and much unwiso "a.
ponditufe avoided.
u g non expecied. believe that
fhe members ~ our new county roads
ponPda ehnli % expert engineers. They
are 20 ACT a. the administrative head
~ each rpunly road sysiesa. reapon.
able Tor ROAD conditions and for road
ADMINISTRATION such enRlneaflnn ana
oihsf services AZ eIey ~ rsquileA. insl