El Nuevo mexicano., 1916-10-12

~TTr~NWrt E~F~T~LHTEX 1890
Fterday d review, taken from the
records, Of Mr. H. Q. Bursum's
exploits as a road builder in the
construction of the Mogollon high
way in Soccrro county. las there
seems to- be a prejudice among the
Republicans against the considera.
|tion Of what itterms Ancient
tory; the New Mexican points to
this piece of work, done last year,
as an example Of the Bursum
methods in building roads for the
people.
All the data available shows that
the building Of this road, seven
miles of it, at a rate which would
make the whole cost nearly a quar-
ter Of a million dollars was not in
the interest of the public service,
not in the interest Of The taxpayers,
in the interest Of efficiency and
economy.
The data available shows that
the building Of this road, made
possible by a bill introduced by the
manager Of Mr.. Bursum's store,
was chiefly in the interest Of Mr..
.Bursum's store, in the interest Of
Mr.. Bursum's close political ass0
ciates in Socorro county, in the I'M
terest of Mr.. Bursum's political
influence among the voters Of So
zorro county.
The story Of the building of the
Mogollon road could scarcely be
classed as mud" The facts have
been obtained first hand. 1t isl
hardly likely that Mr.. Bursum will
deny them. Mr.. Bnrsum, in this in
stance, can hardly raise the cry Of
smud-slingmg.
Mr.. Bursum has deliberately at
tackled the road administration Of
Governor Mcdonald and his state
engineer.
His attack is the more inexcus
able in view Of the well known fact
that the administration Of highways
Mcdonald is one Of the
brightest spots in the Democratic
record. 1t is the more foolish and
futile in view of the fact that New ,
Mexico has never had so able and
"a state engineer as James A. !
French, nor one who SO successfully
kept road building out Of politics.
His attack is the more reprehensible {
in view of his own effort to put the !
roads of New Mexico back into i
politics by restoring the old county
commissioner system, demonstrated ]
to be the worst possible drag on
real road building progress.
Under the circumstances Mr.. 4
Bursum a hardly complain if the 2
in answer to his attack, .
IS turned upon his own road build !
ing record. If thatTecord will nott
stand the spotlight, Mr.. Bursum
have been wiser than to in i
rite it. q
We hardly think the people of = =
Mexico desire road making )
methods similar to those used by b
Mr.. Bursum on the Mogollon road =
in state highway admins
ration. No one has any objection
the personal prosperity of Mr..
3ursum, any more than to the fab
riches attributed to Frank A, G,
Iubbel through the feeding of the n
neck and lowly sheep. The public ],
interest demands, however, that E,
'oads be built in the interest Of the g
axpayers and not for the further Y,
nee Of trade for Mr.. Bursum'sT
tore. 1t may be a good and praise
store and a credit to Socor p
o; but when nearly half of such a {,
am as $27, OO0, rased by the tax h
layers for roads, goes to the sup Y
,ort of this institution, an unfavor- v
BILE impression cannot help but re-
ult. N
The unfavorable impression is II
increased when it is pointed out OF
bat the road project was inaugu s
ated upder a bill introduced by the "
tore manager; and that the chief in
.nnnfeiarins Of the work are Mr. th