Arizona republican., 1919-07-14
Cement for the Roads

Cement for the Roads
 The most important problem before Fthe county highway commission is that of cement It has en- gagged the attention of the commission more closely than any other and it may well do for by the sou- ton of it there may be saved nearly hafsthe s4ooOOoO voted by the people of this county the construc ton of a permanent system of good roads.
 The first step of the commission to ascertain the feasibility of the local manufacture of cement. The commission brought here of the foremost ex- perts of country Mr. Duryea, who had charge of the governments plant at Roosevelt. MT. Duryea after a careful investigation of the plant between Phoenix and Tempe, the plant which he had installed at Roosevelt and examination of inexhaustible sources of material, submitted report in which he stated that cement could be manufactured here at S1S3 barrel this figure covering the cost of repairs of the machinery This estimate it is believed errs if at all on the side of conservatism.
 The present local price of cement is s4 a barrel s125 of that cost being freight. It is estimated that SOOOOO barrels of cement will be needed in car rying out the good roads program, that if the freight were saved there would be saved to the county an even million dollars. The difference be- tween s275 the present price of exclusive of freight and s1S3 would represent a further saving of at least s6OO,OOO.
 It was at first supposed that the commission in order to effect this saving could very small part of the proceeds of the bond issue in the acquis ton of the local cement plant and the manufacture of cement There seems though, to be authority of law for making such investment however beneficial the results. Nor is the county empowered to enter into the business of making cement.
 There various other by which locally made cement may be obainable and at present the commission is negotiating with the Water Users Association which under it's articles may engage in cement making though it appears from opinion of it's attorney that it is limited the manufacture of cement only for it's purposes. We print else where this morning a letter from the commission to the chairman of the council urging action looking to an amendment of the articles to enable the assoca- ton to engage in enterprise by which it's members as well as the whole community may be financially benefited.
 We earnestly hope that something will be done with the least possible delay. Surely s16OoOOO s2OOOOOO in a single enterprise is worth saving and great as that saving would be- it would be small in comparison with savings in other direction. There will vast quantities of cement used in construction in the towns valley millions of barrels the course of a few years. The farmers will need and will use large quantities of cement. Forward looking farmers mind the time when the ditches of the valley must be lined both for the conservation oi water and keep down the level They will need for buildings for such a price it can be manufactured at it will be cheaper than any other building material which in the nature of things must go higher and higher.
 The demand for is steadily increasing and if depend upon outside plants if we should allow the local plant to fall into private hands the price of cement will rise along with the price of all other building materials. With local plant featuring cement at cost. will be unaffected by the demand elsewhere the world
 Our road building program embracing PIP miles cannot be executed at the present market price of If to have concrete roads and no others enduring, build nowhere near PIP miles with the proceeds of s4,OOOO0o bond issue. And yet that program is just the beginning We must have in mind extension of it until there shall be permanent good road to every section of the county and until the valley has been brought into communication by paved road with every section of the state
 At the present price cement a any price it is likely to have unless make it ourselves, as it has been demonstrated make it, cannot carry the beginning the program. The of the progressive of this county in voting s4 100000 for good roads will not be completed until provision has been made apply this sum to good road building and not to the payment of freight and excessive profits of cement manufacturers.