El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-01-04
NEW MEX. ROAD
PROJECT HUGE
Plans Are Made For Big
Development To Be IN
dertaken by State.

now in progress between Silver City
and Santa Rita with convict labor
transferred from the MagdaIena-AIo-
COLON work. A state and county
highway is being constructed be-
tween Silver City and Mogollon.
Five miles of federal aid road
is to be constructed this year
near Captain, he says, and the
HOndO-MescalerO road il TO be
surveyed and constructed. Sur
veys are now in progress. This
road Is to be financially aided by
the United States forest service.
II "a n part of the ROsVEeli-El
Pas0 road.
has been relocated and practically
completed. he says.
Better Road 10 DeminE.
Mr.. French states that couvicts are
now working on the road between
Mesilla and Deming and that, as part
viii greatly improve traffic condi-
tons between Las Cruces and Dem
ing and incidentally FL Paso and
neming by way OF Mesilla Park.
While army truck work has greatly
damaged all roads leading ut OF
Deming the state engineer says the
road between Deming and Columbus
has been maintained in fairly good
condition and that the road to Silver
City from Deming Is excellent.
Speaking Of the Alamogordo-New
man road, Mr. French says: This
brings AIamogordo within a three
hour trip OF Newman and Il has been
stated that FL Paso can be made in
this time.
Approves Convict Labor.
This road IS the product OF con-
Wet labor and since the cost Of this
90 miles OF road was approximately
$500 per mile, the success Of this class
OF work is demonstrated"
Regarding this work. Mr.. French
states that he has spent total Of
about $4,000 in completing II.
Original plans were for the ex-
penditure OF about S35-OO0. Of
which Fl PasO vas to contribute
$500. Fl Paso r. still short
about 5000 on Its contribution
The road forces have been taken
off at present and no more work
IN to be done Mt present. but Mr..
French Saws II Will he necessary
TO maintain the road II Il Is to
he kept IN condition; also. that
some more construction work In
HtrnighfemfnE the road VII be
necessary Mt some future date.
hut this Is not essential at pres
enf. As Il II n state highway.
maintenance work viii continue
and the STRENGTHENING Will be
M, French thinks that FL Paso
should lose no time IN raising the
rest OF the money II promised for
this work. II Il would keep faith with
Otero county and ths New Mexico
highway commission
New Fields Open to FL PaHo.
Sierra county has devoted most OF
its work on roads TO the construction
Of a road between Engle through
ELEPHANT Butte. Hot Springs and
Hillsboro 70 Lake Valley.
From lake Valley a comparatively
rad e-4nnda n Dar-fnU
IN Socorro county. the Socorro-
MaEdalena road was repaired and re-
located in places. Bridges between
san Marcial and san Antonio. de-
stroved OF damaged by food. we're
rebuilt The county has purchased
= truck and special trailers for keep
ing IT'S roads in repair.
The construction Of the road
from MoEolIon to MaEdalena VIII
he given an outlet to n large sec
fion of country west OF Nag
daIena ard Will make possible n
circle tour from FL PasO by way
OF Elephant Butte dam and NaZ-
daIena. to MOEOiIon and Silver
City and back to Ell P1s0 through
Deming, or vice VerNa. DlncsnT FL
Paso in close fOuch with the fish
Ing and hunting regions OF west
ern New Mexico.
Convicts Get Il Cents Daily.
Speaking OF convict work on roads.
M French says:
THE plan has worked satisfactorily
and I wish TO express my apprecia-
tion OF the generous cooperation
given by the superintendent OF the
penitentiary.s
The state engineer pays the state
s1.25 per day for convicts and the
state gives each convict IS cents a
day a. HIS share. Those working In
the prison receive no pay.