El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-01-26
IMPROVED COUNTY ROADS WILL
help CARRY OUT WAR PROGRAM
Many Miles of Paved and Improved Roads Added tt
Ell Paso County's System During Year; Improve
ments of Even Greater Magnitude for 1918; Rul-
ing of Federal Board Adds Additional Cost.

TITHIN the last year 50 miles
M Of paved road have been added
to the roads Of e. Paso county,
a go foot steel bridge has been
erected spanning the Rio Grande at
the vest end OF the Island and four
bridges have been resurfaced with
asphalt, not to mention extensive re-
pair work in all parts OF the county.
When it IS known that, in addition to
this. it IS proposed to build 24is
miles Of asphalt. macadam and gravel
roads in the county during 1918 and
at least one new bridge. it may be
easily seen that FL Paso's plan to
make the city an auto tourists home
on transcontinentaI trips. It should
be remembered. too. that the county
IS now entitled TO $4,000 annually
from the state license income. which
viii help in the campaign.
The additional gravel roads above
mentioned are on the state highway
between Fabens and Sierra Blanca
which was not graveled continuously
but over stretches where repair was
most needed. The work cost So, 900.
The new steel bridge over the Rio
Grande at the island. together with
the approaches. cost $4,000.
Asphalt on Bridge Floors.
A coating Of asphalt one and one
half inches thick has been placed on
the floors Of the Courchesne, Border
land. Canutillo and vinton bridges.
Planks in bridge floors in county
bridges generally last about three
years. The asphalt lasts from six to
eight years with no repair work to
During 1917 the road between FL
PasO and Ysleta was worked over.
being patched with asphalt and the
shoulder OF dirt repaired This work
has all been in the way OF temporary
repairs and has been held as low as
possible pending the result Of the
bond issue
The bond issue. which was carried
at the election Of January /, 1918.
covers the permanent repair or re-
surfacing OF the road from FL PasO
one-half miles from the viaduct to
the Santa Fe crossing and a stretch
OF II miles from FL Paso TO Newman
The latter is now q sand road and
IL is proposed to rebuild IL by sur
racing with gravel or crushed rock
A contract has been let by the
county commissioners for a new
bridge on Doniphan's drive near the
Southwestern Cement plant II viii
span a canyon from Mt. Franklin and
complete viii cost $500, being con-
5tructed Of reinforced concrete.
Road stretch Resurfaced.
The resurfacing Of four and one
half miles of road from Socorro to
San Elizario, in which either gravel
or crushed stone viii be used, viii
cost 1900. the road to be Il OF Is
feet in width Between Clint and san
a distance of two and one
half miles, macadam viii be employed, /
the road being Is feet wide This
road Will cost $4,000 Contracts have
1een let for the construction or botn
roads.
Roads Kept in Good shape.
In addition to the work above men
TONED there has been a regular main I
-enance force at work during the
year with the result that most Of the /
county roads are in excellent shape
This force has varied, at times only I
county road agent L. A. White being
IN the job. At other times the forces J
engaged in upkeep work and build !
ng has reached as high as 75 men. !
Generally there has been but little /
rouble to traffic on county roads /
rom overflow, Doniphan's drive be- I
ng once flooded but not seriously. I
IN the Ysleta and North Loop roads 4
and has been deposited by overflow 4
Dut never in large quantities.
War Requirements Add to Cost.
While labor here is plentiful and /
reasonable the ruling issued by the +
lational board governing the activi
les Of railroads, which prohibits the
hipping Of rock in open topped cars,
IDS fair TO add from $1,000 to Sl5OOi