Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-08-31
MAGAZINE GIVES
DONAA ANA COUNTY
ROADS BIC BOOST
Country Gentleman of Recent
Date Comments EditofiaIly
on Splendid Work Done in
Southern New Mexico.
rr.e,.. eos.s.ronosses 70 1o.~.a 4ournAll

SPECIAL cossesronoEncs TO MORNING JOURNAL
Las Cruces, n. NJ, Aug 500 all
the advertising received by Dona Ana
county from her good roads, perhaps
no one thing is more striking than
the editorial which appears in THE
Country Gentleman" of August 10.
This editorial brings out the point
that bona Ana county has set an ex-
ample for not only New Mexico, but
for all states, In presenting detailed
and exact report OF a bond issue ex-
penditure to each taxpayer of the
county As matter of fact, that Is
what the Dona Ana county road board
did after expanding the 100000 road
bond issue; detailed report. pro-
fusely illustrated, was sent free TO
every taxpayer of the county. telling
him Just how the money had been
spent
Here is the editorial in 1.-THE Coun-
try Gentleman" of August 10. headed.
Accounting. TO Taxpayers"
County Is Unique.
Dona Ana county. New Mexico
claims to be unique in that minute
accounting is rendered to the resi-
dents of how and why their tax
money is expended. There are coun-
ty commissioners in other parts who
when the public funds raised by tax.
alton are exhausted, report the fact
with more or less bluntness to thu
payers. There are progressive county
commissioners who, filled with more
than a usual sense Of honesty, &C
count In the rough for the manner II
which the funds have been employ
ed. There are even county commits
sioners who, moved by deep feeling
of responsibility or with an eye Il
an imminent election, go so far a
to publish somewhat detailed state
ments of disbursements.
But few counties have given to TIL
taxpayers not only an itemized ae
count, but also the reasons MOVING
the board to use the funds in par
ticular direction. Last year Dom
Ana county voted a bond issue
sl00.0 to be employed in the bet
tering of roads. Now the voters ar
furnished with n report as to the us
of the fund. Every expenditure
infinitely accounted for, so that an
one in the county can place his finge
on any item that seems to him on
of economic plumb, and demand a.
explanation.
This is a fine example of the feel
ing that public officers are publ
servants. that their position Is a So
cred trust 1t makes for both honest
in the expenditures and satisfaction
In the contributors when fund
this sort is employed with mutua
sense that all parties are working to
gether, with nothing to hide an
everything TO reveal.
And 1t is not surprising that thi
county has just now voted bonds TO
an additional $4,000 to be put int
roads by men who are willing t
take the taxpayers into their conf
dence."
Traffic Census Taken.
The Dona Ana county road boar
has recently been paying a good dea
of attention to the matter of roa
maintenance. At the request Of Fran
els f. Lester, president of the Stat
Association of Highway Officials tn
office of public roads at Washington
detailed an expert on road mainten
ance, who spent about ten days 4
the county, carefully studying tn
problem of maintaining the grave
roads recently constructed.
One OF the first steps by the exper
was to take a careful traffic censu
of the roads. This census gave sur
prising results, demonstrating tina
the traffic is much heavier than wa
supposed For example, on the Ca
mino Real, short distance south Q
Las Cruces, the actual figures shos
an average of about 500 vehicle
passing given point every day, Q
which about one-third are automo
biles. This traffic appears to be IN
creasing rapidly with the improve
ment of the roads, and is already full
ly double what ii was a year ago.
report, with recommendations fror
the office of public roads. Is expect
ed within the next few days, and
is anticipated that the department q
Washington will detail an expert t
superintendent the maintenance es
pertinent that was promised to tn
county in the correspondence ha
with Mr. Lester of the road board.
Tha Japs tax boards.
Exnprienra is a brush vonchsafed U