The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1918-12-16
New Mexico Should Join Actively in a Great National
Highway Building Campaign to Be Carried Out in 1919

There is no doubt that the uation win agree
with Secretary llonston as To the wisdom oi ROAD
building, from all standpoints, and ds 10 the sound
ness of the present policy of patlonal ad Tor state
highway building. There will bc much Disagree
meni. particularly among state highway authorities,
a., Ia leaving the scheme rs II stands. In rs general
policy the Federal aid road plan - sound. In ITS
administrative detail il is So surrounded by red
tape rs to make it all bat unavoidable.
There are several federal aid road projects in
New Mexico which are of the greatest economic
importance and upon which construction could pro
cccd immediately were some of the uncsScntial de-
tail OF the securing OF Federal funds removed. We
need an immediate program of rcd-tapr cutting in
this regard, aud Tins can bee accomplished without
sacrificing any of the safeguards surrounding the
use OF either federal ~ state funds, and without
dcfrnctine from the efficiency OF the construction.
The principle oe thc War Finance Board eff
fort To- aid stockgroWcrs in oar drouth stricken dis
tricts. H., means of loans. was highly commcndable.
II was sound IN every way ~ purpose. But its
actual operation was 80 surrounded by restrictive
detail aS 10 make the whole plan practically worth
less la helping the livestock industry Of this %cction
of the west, out of lis prcdlcamcnt. The Stockmcn
and their bankers pulled the livestock industry
through The help extended 10y the government
was negligible, because il refused or neglected to
take into consideration the conditions in the field
Of operation of its plan.
Ia the same way the Federal aid road act is fall.
ing down in its practical operation because it fails
tO take INTO consideration the conditions nm the tcld
and on the individual project.
We can afford. however, 10 join in an energetic
backing Of our local and state road building author
ttics and to give every encouragement Ia an active
program of construction for the coming year. There
is not q county in New Mexico that can boast of an
adequate system of good roads. Only a few have
made more than a start. We are suffering enormous
economic losses, both in development aud in profits
from our farms, ranches and mines. and in our
commercial occupations because Of the bad road
conditions SO generally prevalent. This alone
should be- enough to make MS active. enthusiastic
advocates of highway building, leaving aside all
consideration of patriotic service. personal comfort
and the encouragement of u tourist business which
IN New Mexico can ho made of very great CONNER
clal Importance.
Ina another aspect our present highway build
ing system Is very defective. We make practically
mo- provision for upkccp. We have spcnt very i'm.
portant sums of money iu the construction of both
county and state roads which are now as bad rs
before the money was Spcut. \ road can no more
be- kept in shape without constant supervision and
rcpair, than an engine can run without gasoline or
other fuel. The upkcep is an absolute essential,
and until we take this question of upkcop into our
highway budget estimates, orr system rs at fault in
am essential and will continue 10 prove a failure.