The Glenwood post., 1912-10-12
ASPEN HEARS
ROAD NEWS
Promise of Help From Forest
Service For independence
Pass Route
100000 AVAILABLE

Aspen, Oct. Supervisor John Me-
Lafen has been advised from headquar-
ters of Forest Service District No. 2,
Of the United States agricultural de.
partment that the sum of $4,000 has
been allotted to be expended on the In
dependence pass road within the for
est. This allotment is made under the.
provisions of the agricultural appropri.
alton bill authorizing the expenditure
of 10 per cent of the receipts from the
national forests during the year 1912
on the construction of roads. Tho
state of Colorado will receive total Of
So, ,5O363.
This money is not yet available and
in the meantime the forestry officials
will make plans so as to be ready to
proceed with the work as soon as the
money is available.
In planning the distribution of this
money it was thought that in order to
secure the greatest possible benefit
with the limited funds available this
year the matter would have to be con-
sidered on the basis of the highway
system of the state as whole, and not
from the standpoint that each individ-
ual county or forest should receive an
allotment pro rated in accordance with
its receipts.
1t is the purpose to use this fund
almost exclusively in the construction
and maintenance of those roads within
the national forests that viii contrib
ute most to the development of the
country and promote general travel, and
in connection with the general road
system of tine state, which will be used
by the greatest number of people, rath-
er than to scatter it over large num-
her of small and unrelated projects.
Before deciding definitely which pro-
iects should be approved, the matter
was taken up with the state officials
and those conferred with were of tho
unanimous opinion that the above pol
icy should be adhered to.
It Is the purpose of the service 20
use the money from this fund in th"
construction of good and permanent
roads within the boundaries of the
forests and not for the temporary re-
pair of roads, the grade and location
of which is not such as 10 be perma-
nently satisfactory for wagon or auto
mobile travel.
The forest service will expend its
share of the money On approved pro-
jects without entering into co cooperative
agreements with counties or individu-
ais. Where counties, individuals, or
other co-operators have agreed to spend
certain amounts of money on the road
forest officials are recommended to urge
them to complete their share of the
project, but the forest service will ex-
ecute its portion of the work independ-
emily of this cooperation.
Since the money is appropriated
for the benefit of the state rather than
for the benefit of the forest service,
its officials are stiNl further recon-
mended to carefully consider the sug-
gestions of county commissioners and
others who are interested in the con-
struction of good roads on all matters
relative to the expenditure of the
money allotted.
The seasoraeis now so far advanced
it is probable that should the money
become Immediately available nothing
or little could be done until next spring
further than to perfect plans for the
construction of the Independence pass
road.