Eastern Utah advocate. [volume] (Price, Utah) 1895-1915, 1912-09-12
10 BUILD GOOD ROADS
MUCH Can Be Learned Before
Funds Are Expended.
r'rs' Learn What Types Of Highway
Are Best Suited TO Trane and GU.
matte Conditions - Millions
Have Been Wasted.

Al the present time there are two
principal methods OF raising funds for
good roads. but Director Logan w
rage OF the public roads department
OF the governwent believes that be
lore plans are set on foot for secur
ing money much should be said regard
ing the manner In which such funds
should be expended
IL should not be assumed that sim
ply because country owns uuarries
rom which trap or limestone rock can
De secured that the expensive macad
am road must necessarily be built
Inc qualifications Of any rock can.
hot be definitely decided upon until
laboratory tests have been held
Maeh money has been almost
thro"n away in this country. however.
on the construction OF rock.surfaccd
roads those having the construction
W charge neglecting to call In the
services OF expert chemists and usinR
rock totally unsuited to their trafiic OF
climatic conditions.
In many cases the results were dis
astrous. the roads quickly raveline and
going to pieces because the ccmentine
value was lacking
a county which shows insufficient
progress to bond itself In liberal
amount for the purpose of SECURING
improved roads should keep is none,
intact until its officers have learned
exactly what class OF roads will best
meet It's requirements. what type OF
road u u best qualified to construct
and what II eau best afford
Those facts can BE- secured through
me aid Of the national government.
inc oiiice Of public roads. standing
ready to give gratuitous service aud
to supply skilled highway engineers
who are qualified TO tell what tyne Of
highway would best meet that coun.
Tvs requirements aud TO demonstrate
those decisions by supervising the
building OF stretches OF model high.
ways, after which local officials may
take pattern.
Millions have been wasted In build.
ing roads which local conditions made
impractlcablo aud out OF all cost pro.
portion to the county's revenue.
There are exceptions to all rules.
however. and Pike county. Alabama.
stands as glittering exception to tho
usual construction blunder. There tho
county officials had planned to cxpend
n large sum Ia the building OF gravel
roads.
W. l.. Spoon. United States superin.
tondent Of road construction. being
sent TO make an inspection OF tho
county's road possibilities. learned
that 700 miles OF important routes
needed Improvement.
lie figured that the cost OF gravel
roads would be- $1,000 mllc--plalniy
a sum greater than the county could
be bonded for.
Conditions. however. were ideal for
sand.clay construction and he strong,
~ urged its adoption. By legal pro
vision the county could be- bonded for
only three and onc-half per cent OF
the assessed value Of the real and per.
sonal property.
The plan was decided upon aud an
Issue OF $4,000 was voted. and 500,
900 worth OF the bonds we're quickly
sold being disposed OF In $4,000 allot.
mcnts
The first allotment brought n pre-.
MUM OF $685. and the second one OF
tS25, Forty thousand dollars was at
once spent for mules and road build.
Ing machinery and work was started
With the sum remaining llS miles
OF the finest sandclay roads In the
south had been built within two years
from the date OF the bond issue. a gen.
erous sum was still on hand. eight
gangs were at work and the people
were 30 well pleased that they stood
ready TO take up the remaining issue
OF $4,000 and expend II In the same
WAY