The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-08-03

The following interesting paper was
cad this morning by Hon. Eugene
kempenih, before The meeting OF the
New Mexico division of the National
Highways association In The Commor-
cial club. Mr. Kemponicn ~ ~ prom
inent booster FOR good roads and " a
member Of the board Of county COM
missioaers ~ Valencia county aud
Also "A member OF the Valencia county
road board. The pnper follows.
Before New M%Sioo became a state
there were ocoaHipnpI. sporadic ef-
forts to improve road1 in che various
counties. The rad construction OF
the counties was In the hands OF
road supervisors. who were appointed
by the respective boards of county
commissioners usually one supervisor
Tor each prkoinct within the county
The duties OF those supervisors were
to work out the precinct or per cap!ia
road tax. tul maintain the roads in
their respective precincts la good con-
dition aud to make an annual report
of their work To the board of commits
sionors In some precincts, good rohda
were built under the supervisor sss-
TEN. but In general the work
was unsatisfactory. The boards OF
commissioner were overloaded with
other routine matters pertaining To
the affairs of heir counties and
could devote. only a limited amount ~
time To- the conduct ~ road affairs
They were compelled To appoint az
many ruHd supervisors az there were
precincts within their counties. and
ns these supervisors were given ghso-
Lutte authority In the matter Of coh-
strurtiun. 10 was impossible to find
quaiiiisd and experienced men IN each
precinct 20 sVerclsc this authority In
%telligently. undrr the system no con
crete plan OF road Improvement for
an entire count could he devised.
Each procintt wns following ~ own
incitnatiuns without regard 90 the de
sircs or necessities of adjoining pre-
cincts II was generally realized
throughout the state 90 New Mexico
that this method of highway construc-
ton htd many defects, that II held
out little hope for future Improvement
and the urgent necessity " legislation
providing for a more centralized sys-
everyone.
During the last days OF the session
Of the first state legislature In the
spring pf 1912 rond enthusiasts were
becoming discouraged as IL seemed
possible that no law providing for
better methods of road administration
would be- enacted \ few live wires
residing Ia BONA Ana county finally
put their heads together. hastily
framed a bill p%roviding Tor the Gre
alton Of road boards IN the various
counties of the state. rushed tn SANTA
pc and by their ~unboundcd cnthusi-
nsm induced the legislature To enact
tho hin into a law. This is h law
ON our statute books under which
county road construction is proceed
ing only q very few days wer"
available Tor the framing uf this law.
There was no opportunity Tor as
thorough "a consideration, as was de-
'fred. while this law is grcai m
. pruVcmout over former legislation u
unsresa.e some defects. Parts OF Il
upro ambiguous. So that u required
the Interpretation 81 tho supreme
court of the state Of New Mexico 20
define their meaning. In discussing
th, relative functions of the ROAD
boards and the board of county com
m]issionors 10 S. necessary to consider
the decisions of the supreme court
The functions Of the boards "l
county commissioners In road mntt"is
are. Tho Ic,ying OF funds for ROAD
construction and maintenance. the
establishment. alteration and CON
domuation ot the ~right-of-way for
roads ana tho letting of contracts for
the erection ot bridges huilt under
fpccial petition of the taxpayers.
The functions Of the road boards
consist nf the construction and main
tainancc Of roads within their county,
Both boards draw upon tho general
road fund Of the county ior the cN-
prnditures Incurred in the exercise 81
these functions. u there " n lack OF
harmony between the two bodies
road Improvement Is impossible. tn"
board Of county commissioner can
stop AN activity otvthe road board by
simply refusing 90 make a levy for
road purposes or hy making q ridi-
r]ulously small levy. The road board,
ON the other hand, cap refuse tn huild
roads on the riFht-of-way condemned
boz the commissioners ana refrain
from doing work ON ans or all roads
within the county. Il b. only by