The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-01-13

TIE above are the more important
outstanding facts from "a very cX-
tensivc and carefully detailed report
Of State Engineer French ia the gov
ernor and the state legislature made
public yesterday. and covering The
work OF the state highway commits
sion. the state board Of water com
missioners ma the operations Of the
state engineers Office In road work
.anf water conservation and develop
ment during the past two fiscal years
ended November 80. 1914. The re-
port. which Is q lengthy one. shows
most important results In road con
struction and some indications Of "a
revival OF activity IN irrigation con-
structlon.
one OF the most important feat
urcs Of Mr.. French's report Is "A rec
concentration that the 1919 county
road Jaw (chapter -. Session Laws
OF 1919 he repealed. ana a law em-
bodying the following features substi-
tuted
Creation OF the office Of county
highway engineer In each county. the
engineer To be employed by the coun-
ty commissioners of each county ard
approved by the state highway com
mission. or appointed by tho state
highway commission and approved
by the county commissioners. Law
TO he strict ~ to qualification 81 the
. county highway engineer. providing
that the appointment shall be based
ON technical experience n cduca-
lion In road design and construction
The engineer to prepare annually
-.gtl-. 10 aFapfH RAnUVnlaa
sioners and with their consent, de-
signs and types Of roads ana est
mates for the following years work
same To be- approved hy the state
highway commission. Levy by inc
county commissioners for road WORN
TO be based on the estimates pre-
pared. state to aid financially ana
have direct supervision In the build
ing OF roads outlined In the state
highway system. state To have onlS
general supervision In the building
81 other roads. Present road tax oil
50 per man to be used only for emer-
gency and repair work"
Mr.. French suggests that the pres
ent state highway law he left hh"u'
as it II. He suggests also. that ~ the
event Il Is shown that one county
highway engineer can look after the
road work Of two or more counties
the state. or SUCH portions Of tht
state be divided into districts for road
I supervision hy the highway engineer
In connection with his recommend
alton for the repeal of the present
, county road Jaw Mr. French says
! ~ am Of the opinion hat the the
r DRY Of the law creating the roa'
. yboards h. wrong as applied Ia TN
state and existing conditions, In ordei
/, 10 create an organization To accom-
Z nlish economic and efficient rou'
construction The building of road.
! ls professional work, u N as mucl
o. of AN economic factor In public de
, velopmcnt az the work of n man u
4 professional, industrial or CONNER
. cial private undertakings No hrn
o. OF corporation in private commercial
development would think 81 cngaRihl
any Individual not specially htted b,
experience and education to handi
= the particular line OF work under
2 taken. Nor is there sound nrgumen
u why the county should do otherwis'
n In its undertakings. Under the pres
e ent law the state asks three men o
several varieties ct professions or oc
a equations 10 undertake certain dutie
A without compensation. The resul
has been that few patriots have beel