The copper era and Morenci leader., 1919-02-28
START STATE ROADS
 GIVE 500 WORK
Fund of $3,400,00o For Highway and Bridge Building Is Program of the Legislature According to Announc- ment Made by Representative w. M. DeIbridge, of Bisbee.

A possible fund of $3,4OO,0OO for road and bridge building in. the state S4O0,000 of which in all likelihood, will be immediately available, and employment for 600 more men within the next 60 days was the situation as outlined this week by Representa-. tive w. M Delbridge of Bisbee Delbridge gave the estimates in answer to question as to whether the Cochise delegation in the legisla- ture would press for action OF the telegram from Bisbee, read this week. urging levy of $3,O0O, ,0OO this year for road construction to take care of the unemployment situation, which the telegram said, was serious and becoming more critical.
 The s3,40O,O0O possible road fund mentioned by the Bisbee representa- tive is made up as follows: $200,000 in a senate emergency bill which is expected to receive prompt action in the house and which is being appro- priated to match $200 900 of federal government funds, or $4OO,0O0 in all: aonther road appropriation measure for state roads carrying $1, ,500, ,000 and the enabling bill which will allow counties to levy up to two mills on the dollar for road purposes to work in conjunction with the government.
 If the limit of two mills is put on by the counties, Delbridge says it would provide another million and a half to add to the states million and a half, all of which would be availabl ble when the taxes come in next fall. The immediate funds would come from the states emergency bill $200.- fho fn6n ioti n match. t.'
 Can Give 600 Work. .....
 Delbridge went over the road build ing possibilities with State Engineer Holmquist, from whom he asserts, he learned that with present equipment and funds the state could employ not to exceed 200 more men on its high way and bridge construction.
 Holmquist. however, pointed out that plans for new road out ol
 Yuma, which twice had ben rejected by the federal government, had been altered and a third time were wait ing approval at Washington. The , engineer said he felt sure they would
 be approved as changed, and if they , went through he would be able to take care of aonther 400 men on that , project, making a total of 600 mer for whom work would be available in the near future.
 No special funds have been sci aside to cooperate with the federal F government on the Yuma road, but il was Delbridge's opinion that the s2Ot
 900 measure now in the legislature
 would be applied to that work.
 Holmquist said that the approval O , the Yuma road plans by the fedora , authorities would mean that the stat,
 would have to acquire new equipmen
 but he estimated that this all could
 be gotten together and work staret within 60 days from the date Wash ington endorsed the plans
 According to Delbridge, Holmquis :; estimated that he had 422 men em i ployed in six road gangs throughou
 the state as follows:
 Tempe highway, 3 S6-100 miles il
 all, two miles finished, 100 men.
 Also GiIa Bridge Project. !. Mesa and Superior road, surfacin ' work for a total of 30 miles, 20 mile ' of which is yet to be completed, 6 e men. This project also includes e bridge to be built over Queen Greek f on which the estimate is 25,OOO. Tombstone road. three miles, sixt f men.
 Clifton and Solomonville road, 3 : miles in length, 14 miles yet to b
 built. S2 men.
 Prescott and Jerome road, 30 mile l- to be built. 60 men. This job. accor f. ing to the estimates, is a more diff d cult and expensive project than mos V, of the others, construction runnin If $10,000 per mile.
 . Globe and Roosevelt road, tw t. miles 60 men.
 is Besides these projects there is
 proposed bridge over the Gila rive