Rocky Ford enterprise., 1913-04-11
WORKING FOR
BETTER ROADS
Commissioners of Southern
Colorado Counties
MEET WITH NEW
HIGHWAY COMMISSIONER
. And Give Him Pointers for Guidance
In Fight for Proper Appor-
tionment of Funds

Z southern Colorado, the county COM
missioners of this section of the state
in Pueblo on Saturday perfected a
permanent organization of the Off
cials who met to confer with c. r.
McLain, of Canon City, recently ap-
pointed state highway commissioner
from the third district, in regard to
road conditions and appropriations
for this year.
]. +. Thompson, county commits
sioner of Pueblo county. was elected
treasurer OF the new organization.
On motion of E. R. Wilson, of Delta
county, it was decided that each coun-
ty shall paw into the treasury SIo to
defray the expenses of Mr.. McLain
when it becomes advisable for him to
make trips to the various counties in
his district to confer with local lead
ers in regard to roads.
One of the most important matters
to come before the new organization
was a discussion of whether or not
Mr.. McLain should resign his position
as president of the Santa Fe Trail and
Rainbow Route associations now that
he has accepted the position of high
way commissioner. 1t was the sense
ofthe meeting that he should retain
his office in the association because
he could work to the same advantage
if not better when he had interests
here to look after.
The meeting of the county commits
sioners of the various counties in
ily that Mr.. McLain could be advised
as to how much money the counties
themselves could raise to devote to-
I'D road work this year, how much
Nney will be needed to complete the
fwdfK outlined, how many roads the
counties now have and how many are
absolutely needed.
Each county made detailed report
answering these questions and ex-
planning the existing conditions. From
the reports it seems that the majority
of the counties are badly in need OF
! money. They spent much more than
they were able to in 1911 and 1912
when they understood they were to
get an appropriation from the state.
They worked on the theory that they
would be reimbursed, but the law was
declared void and they were at loss.
Auxiliary roads have been neglected
for primary roads>in practically every
county in southern Colorado, accord
ing to the various commissioners.
This is due largely to the numerous
state highways traversing this section
of the state and the anxiety of the
residents of the counties to bring tour
ist travel to Colorado.
Each commissioner stated that this
year more attention would be paid to
auxiliary roads, which are used al
most exclusively by the residents OF
the county in getting their products
to the market, and that little work
would be done on the primary or state
roads.
The result of turning all funds to
the construction of primary roads
and failing to recognize the necessity
OF auxiliary roads was demonstrated
by Commissioner Higgins of Pueblo
county, who made one of the princI-
pSl addresses of the meeting. He
Stated that before the auxiliary roads
were constructed in the southern part
of the county where sugar beet rails
ing is the principal industry in one
wear 10000 tons of beets froze in the
ground because the farmers could not
haul them to the beet dumps over the
bad roads. Last year, stated MIR. Hig-
gins, more beets were raised and every
one was hauled to the factories long
before the time allotted Tor delivery
With the reports of the various
commissioners in this county, Mr.:
McLain will go to Denver prepared
to state exactly what he wants the
highway commission to do TOR TINS
section of the state. He will be en-
abled to point out the absolute needs
of southern Colorado, how many
roads there are now, how many. are
contemplated. what benefits will be
derived from the construction OF the
new ones, how much the counties have
: to spend on road building and how
much they will require to finish their
work. In fact, he will be able to tell
definitely just what he wants the com. I'M
mission to do for his section OF the
state. :,
The meeting adjourned to be called
again in the near future by Mr.. Nc
Lain, at which time the organization
will be better perfected and officers