Great Falls daily tribune., 1919-08-17

n,
for construction and for engineering su-
pervision.
"I wish that it were possible to add
that there has developed a definite pro
gress for future maintenance OF bond
built roads. There is a marked I'M
provement in our plans for maintenance
but our policy still lacks definition and
authority. The excellence of the French
highways is largely due to the systemt-
ic continuous maintenance by the can
tonnier,, or patrol on four or five mile
stations.
'In those states that have taken
over the complete control of mainten-
ance we find the best upkeep of high
ways. 1t might be possible to finance
the maintenance of bond-built highways
by the use Of portion Of the issue to
purchase an annuity for that purpose.
Funds for Repairs.
Certainly in those states that have
adopted the principle Of financing in
terest and retirement of state road bonds
by automobile license fees the entire
increase of fees over bond requirements
might well be devoted to repair and
maintenance Of the roads built by the
proceeds of the bonds.
There are many points in connection
with the issuance of highway bonds by
states and counties that will repay care
full study. 1t is true that up to the
present there has not to my knowledge
developed single case of reputation
or default but there are defects in sew
eral of the bond schemes and we are
not yet entering the active period of
repayment or discharge of the principle
."The California plan of requiring the
counties to pay the interest on the por-
ton of the state issue spent within its
borders seems commedable.
''The serial type Of bond is undoubt-
edly the best type. It completes the
financing at single stroke and pre-
cludes the necessity Of clumsy and
ing issue. It is the cheapest in total
cost--it will save $13,472 per hundred
thousand at going rates of four and one
half per cent interest over the sinking
fund accumulative at three and onehalf
per cent on 20 year issue. 1t may
well be issued for retirement in Is years
with repayment deferred for five years
during construction.
ANY premium received on the sale
Of bonds may well be Immediately de-
posted as sinking fund to assist In re-
payment and decreased taxation. The
sale of bonds should not be necessarily
in advance of construction requirements.
Expert Engineers Scarce.
Too frequently. local sentiment
sacrifices good business to the employ
ment of some very worthy but mex
perienced local engineers. The salary
for a highway engineer. competent to
select an economic location, design and
construct the roads under couple OF
hundred thousand bond issue, is a poor
item to stint
Highway engineers of experience are
low very scarce and command good pay
Good results will not be realized by
too much hurry. Take time to get start
ed right. Establish a thorough cost
keeping system. Decide on an economic
outfit Of machinery-dont buy more
crushers than you have possible roller
capacity Get steam shovel il your
grading will be heavy. Provide a good
sist on good plans. competition in lot
tings and an competent Inspections; avoid
trouble with contractors by living up TO
every item of the contract and require
lin to do likewise. Pay him promptly
and avoid claims and extras.
THE major question Of selection of
the roads to be built under bond is
sues and the types of construction are
questions We have continuously before
us. For two decades there has been an
issue between the advocates Of market
roads and truck highways. The solution
Of this disputed question appears to be
jndicious compromise. Build market
roads out from centers Of population
and see that portion Of them are long
enough to connect with the through
roads of the next county.
Type of Construction.
Safa ho Of
ed to the traffic that will come during
the life of the bond. In general the
heavier traffic will be nearer the towns
and require more width and heavier
foundations. BE assured that traffic on
all roads will greatly increase, first
with the degree Of Improvement and,
second. with the natural growth Of bust
ness and population.
The question of how much money
community may safely invest in roads
at given period is an interesting one
and will repay close study. Too frequ
entity the amount Of expenditure is ar
rived at by guess and is often un-
economically limited by out of date
legislation. In general the overcapital-
lzatlon Of highways in America has not
appeared. The economy Of good roads
is so great that the factor Of safety has
never been reached. Bond road construc
ton has survived poor administration,
defective engineering and faulty CON
struction, and in some cases all these
defects combined, but with every year
of added experience there is less excuse
for any one of these defects.
In general good market road pays
dividends to the people-there is a real
operating income notwithstanding the
absence Of tolls or the keeping Of traf-
fic movement costs. This is a com
munity income, negative in character,
but it is measured by decreased cost of
travel and haul This income is in
dependent of general community uplft,
consolidated schools, wider radius of
farming operations and diversification Of
crops. 1t is strictly saving on the
going business operations or an operat-
ing income. Here is an example: A 15-
mile market road serving one-sixth Of
the area about shipping point in a
wheat countr~ yielding 500 pounds for
every acre. will cary S,378 tons per year
over the tenth mile, and 1850 tons
over the first mile from town. Ii
adequate improvement can reduce the
cost of hauling 5 cents per ton mile. you
can capitalize the construction Of the
tenth mile at $S.37S and the first mile