The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-10-13
BUILDING AND
UPKEEP OF ROADS
WAR ACTIVITIES
BY The Road Committee,
Ardmore Chamber of Commerce

permanent roads throughout the
country is no longer considered the
idea of some idle dreamer, but is
engaging the thought of the very
best thinkers our statesmen, min
'sters, teachers, bankers, merchants,
manufacturers and last, but not
least, farmers.
All along the line we are now
trying to provide ways and means
to build good permanent roads and
at the same time provide for the
upkeep. 1t is just as important to
provide for the upkeep OF a road
as ii is to build it.
Experience has taught us that
long, narrow road is more to be de-
sired than a short, wide one. Those
who really want good roads from
somewhere to somewhere" are put
ting the money on the end of the
road. There are many reasons for
this. In the first place given sum
OF money will build a nine-foot con-
crete or brick roadbed one-third |
farther than it will build a fifteen
loot roadbed, and as far again as
the same money will build a twenty
foot roadbed.
The East Building Roads.
In travelling through the eastern
states recently, the committee rep
resentative found that nine-rfoot
roadbed was used in several of the
states. It is built in the center OF
the roadway with an eight-foot BERN
on either side and is twenty-five feet
from ditch to ditch.
In talking with some of the
of these roads and the peo-
pie who helped to pay for them, it
was learned that such roads are
easily maintained. The berms on
either side OF the road are made of
dirt or gravel, Many contended that
they much prefer the narrow cen
.er roadbed for they had proven
o be savers Of life( limb and prop
erty. They are not speedways, and !
he reckless driver soon finds it out
md used them only as roads.
More money is being spent this
ear than was ever known in the
history OF the United States on c
permanent roads. Are we getting
'ur full share Of these roads If b
lot, why not? a
Federal Aid For Roads. d
Combined forces of the federal I
overnment, states and counties /,
tll spend for highway improve a
lent this year $263,096,610. This is
xceeds by 81 per cent the expen- II
itures of any previous year. 1t a
Nceeds hat OF 1917 by $l1S797, ,250 fC
Dad officials OF the government W
nd state say that this big sum II
lerely represents drop in the tt
lcket of what should be spent be- ii
ire the war is over. tn
The total OF this years improve
entS i, little more than half what OF
acretary McAdoo has announced III
necessary for the upkeep and i'm la
'ovement OF the overtaXed Ameri- el
IN railroads. Calculations by gov W
nmcnt official, add that. with &C
,od roads, motor trucks are capa. gr
c OF carrying approximately 200 III
r cent more freight than the III
iroads. In the same calculation
t estimated value OF our high
lys is placed at $6240,0O0,000O -
ne productive possibilities OF
were considered above 4
else in determining the sum to ,
allotted for highway improve
ents. Fr,
Spending Vast Sums.
The south and middle west appro- ,
ations exceed those of other re-
ms by many millions. Texas leads -
others in proposed highway de-
opment, announcing the amazing
ignment of $25,0O0,000 for road
Last year she spent
100000. nj.
official reports from Oklahoma l
NV that in Tulsa, in the oil field oo
trict, there is being spent $780, or
J. which is more than some of the
ties spend during the entire year
1917. Okmugee county is put
: SS0O,O00 into forty-three miles -
permanent roads.
arkansas last year spent four
lion dollars. This year she is in
ting twelve million. Arkansas
Texas are after the big trunk
IS, knowing full well that they
st first be built and then the
rails will follow. Texas and
,ansas are getting government
but OF the $25,OO000O that Texas
investing, the government has
Y given them SS75 900.
The Indian Trail Route.
klahoma can and will have the
: best roads of any state in the
IN, because we have more and
er road building material than =
of them.
great trunk line extending from
rUngson, North Carolina, to
Angeles. California, is already
the national highway map and
soon be marked as the Indian 4
l. This trunk line passes q
ugh Little Rock( Hot Springs, :
ldelphia, Center Point. Lockes-
: and Horatio in Arkansas cross
the state line at Cerra Gordo;
ce to Good Water. Idabel. Val