El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-03-27
ROAD PROGRAM
Of J. s. LARGE
DR.. Johnson, the Ruidoso
Booster, Tells of Efforts
at Washington.

Twenty-Five million dollars. to e
appropriated at the rate Of s5,00O.0O0
a year for five years, is the sum that
is asked Of congress for expenditure
on national highways, by a bill to
be introduced in congress through the
office Of the postmaster general, ac-
cording to DR.. S. n. Johnson, Of Rui-
dose. n. n, who arrived in FL Paso
Tuesday afternoon. after an extended
visit in Washington, D. c.. in the in
terest Of road Legislation.
The sum asked Of congress, If
granted. VIII be expended under the
direction Of the postmaster general
on portions Of national highways,
which cannot be constructed under
the provisions Of the present federal
aid law. All over the United states,
according TO DR.. Johnson, there are
long stretches OF splendid highway
whose economic value is largely nulll-
fled because Of bad stretches Of road,
which cannot be built under the pres
ent law. The construction Of these
links is the object Of the bill pro
posed by DR.. Johnson.
VIII Select Roads.
The postmaster general" said Dr.
Johnson. will select the roads 10 be
built with view to facilitating the
auto truck. The work viii, Of course,
receive hearty local support from the
city, county and state governments
and the various local highway aSsO-
Citations. James I. Blakslee, fourth
assistant postmaster general. and
member Of the highway and transpor-
tation committee, OF the Council OF
National Defence, is heartily in favor
Of the proposed bill, which is also en-
dorsed by the American Automobile
association"
Gets Money for 8IeseaIerO Road.
While in the national capital. Dr..
Johnson Obtained important appro-
priations for road building in his own
state Of New Mexico Arriving too
late for the Introduction Of special
appropriation in the house Indian ap-
preparation hill, DR.. Johnson sue
ceeded IN getting a special amendment
inserted in the senate, which finally
nsssed. The appropriation provided
for the eLrenditure Of $4,000 by the
bureau OF Indian affairs. with $4,000
to be appropriated by the county OF
OterO- in the construction Of road
from Tularosa to the MescalerO IN
dian reservation The aggregate sum
Of $4,000 viii be spent entirely on the
Is miles Of road between these two
points. which means an average cost /
Of $1,000 per mile
ment for the Introduction Of legisla- /
ton next December for the appro- I
priatiOn Of sufficient money, to eL-
tend the proposed Tulsrosa-Mesca- /
Zero road. across the Indian reserva- /
ton TO the Ruidoso valley, a distance ]
Of 20 miles. This will also come in I
The appropriation bin Of the Indian 1
commissioner.
Speaks for Bankhead Highway.
while in Washington" said DR.. !
Johnson, I made my headquarters
with the American Automobile asso-
a7n#f1~n The General nm0TmHnrn among
the officials Of the association seems
to be that the proposed Bankhead
memorial highway should run rom
reXarkana. through Dallas and Fort
Worth to Sweetwater, and that II
should then be routed 10 FL Paso, "a
Roswell The reasons for this route
Is that IL would serve a greater Top
1larion. ard at the same time would
run through. far more picturesque
country. Scenery IS what you must
provide for the transcOntinental tour
st. and IF what I hear is correct,
more southern highway, would en-
counter considerable desert country.
But the northern route as planned
viii route the motOrist through
scenic panorama second TO none be
ween the Mississippi river and the
Rio Grande-
Fl Pas0 on Many Roads.
while I was in Washington, the
association completed the most com
3rehensive map Of Unconstitutional
.oads. that has ever been published.
L is now on the press. and when
printed viii show II different trans
continental auto roads in cOlors. Fl
2asoans would be interested 10 see
low many OF these roads pass
hroJgh FL Paso-"
DR.. johnson VIII be in FL Paso IN
II Tuesday. when he leaves for Carl
.ozO. where he will attend a good
Dads conference. The state highway
the commissioners Of Lin
.Oln county, and representatives Of
he federal government VIII meet at
Jarrizozo Friday. TO discuss the good
Dads movement in New Mexico