The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-10-21

middle west Yves SO great and so uni
versai that railroad enthusiasts cause,
county M community bonds to b,
issued to such an extent as TO brini
ruin upon the inhabitants Of thosl
communities. Railroads were bull
where there was no justification fol
the same. and Of course the result
was disastrous. What resulted from
the building OF the railroads nigh.
also result from the construction a.
public roads one can easily imagine
that u the demands Of all the peopl,
Of New Mexico were met relative e
public roads, In Il few years the en-,
tire wealth of the state would b,
spent in constructing them. To carry
the matter 40 far would. Of course. be-
%ruinoua and foolish; and while there
IL no danger Of this being done TO the
extent that we would consume ON
very selves by building public roads.
yet there is danger In our attempt.
ing too much
"Stop-Look--LIstcn."
! believe that we have already
reached the point in New Mexico
where we should take notice OF the
stop. Look and Listen sign. am
convinced that IL il utterly foolish 20
construct more roads than can be
maintained in good condition. on a
New Mexico map q road that has
been built and given the dignity Of a
state highway Is a delusion and a
snare and a sore disappointment II IL
Is no maintained 10 that IL is reason
ably passable. II aliurcs people 10
attempt to pass over Il. when IL Is
impossible Tor them TO do SO with
comfort or even safety. / think one
OF the FIRST things that the official.
Who make the state and county tax
lcNies should determine Is the amount
OF money that the public can afford
each year for the maintenance Of the
public roads in the several turisdic.
lions n that they should then rigid
~ adhere 10 the policy Of not con
structing more roads than can be
maintained by hat amount OF money.
II goes without saying that these
roads should be constructed al the
places serving the largest number of
people and connecting the most I'M
portant communities Of the state.
Make Permanent improvements.
! further believe hat any money
expended upon public roads out OF
the funds secured by road bonds
should be expended only upon pcrmn -
nent Improvements such as %suhstan-
tia bridges, or that character OF road
which can and will be maintained per-
petually \ community. no more thar
an individual, has not the inherent
right 90 spend the money Of a future
s~cncidtiou for the Injuries of me
present unC. one would not think OF
deliberately contracting Tor something
that his children could never enjoy
and making a provision that they
must pdy for h same That would
be deemed selfish iu the extreme. but
this b. what really happens when loLs
term bonds are given and the money
derived thcrctrum expended upon
roads that viii not be permanent.
\ permanent road Is not an easy
one 90 construct in Sew Mexico. and
perhaps 1t Is impossible To construct
unless rigid maintenance is observed.
] now desire to submit some figures
which will show the expense to which
the people OF New Mexico have been
put iu years past and VIVA. h facing
them iu the future These figures are
taken from the report of the travel
ing auditor for the years 1910 TO 1914.
inclusive, and for the year 1918 We
have the estimates already indicated
hy the stat, lcyios and such county
l,'''s az ha'' come III tos.'n't WIN
80 "'''' W" ""' '''"' ''"' '' ~
sue
" ''''"Nl's .-''S S"'" wv
'
H'Hl', pan" TOT iu'uS 1870 i,
'N"''''' f''" '"' ''"'''' ~
,,, ,
'''' a,
't' @
49, -
'" ''
IT.. $780,. ,-
,a,,
,.,,
-, .. - .
IT.. s,s.,.,.
,o,a
s ~ ~ -, az. ,.s al,
,-,,n,,. 80, &c. -. On. go ~