South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-08
FULL SPEED" IS
SLOGAN Of j. s. IN
ROAD BUILDING
Survey of Recent Contract
Awarded Shows Movement
for Better Roads Gaining.
BY LOUIS LUDLOW.

WASHINGTON. D. C., June -
Fun speed ahead.
This is the slogan that IS putting
the pep in highway construction all
over the country. Especially IL this
true Of concrete construction.
A survey Of recent concrete high
way lettings discloses "a marked
tendency toward full speed ahead In
road work While the tendency
was not so apparent even "a month
ago. it Is no more than might be
expected and bears out the repeat
ed assertion Of those qualified TO
speak from a definite knowledge Of
material costs that waiting for
drop in prices would result only i'm
a waste Of time and a shortening Of
the construction season. 10 the great
disadvantge OF the public at large.
Prices Not so High.
Contractors who have permitted
themselves TO be affected by this
policy OF delay and who have as "a
result Jagged i'm organizing their
equipment and labor forces for the
seasons work will be surprised 70
learn the extent 10 which concrete
road work is contracted for or al
ready under way. The public at
large also viii be surprised to know
that prices are not as high in bids
offered and accepted as had been
predicted on the part OF those who
have been advising against delay
until some more convenient time
An analysis OF the awards made
show that the average price ranges
from $3.50 10 $3.50 per square yard
Awards have been made for con
crete roads in the District Of Co
lumnia. Connecticut. West Virginia,
Georgia. Illinois. Indiana. Kansas.
Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota,
Missouri. New Jersey. New York.
Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vir-
ginia and other states.
Not Confined TO Territory.
'rhe scope OF territory reporting
contracts shows that the resumption
Of highway work is not confined
any particular territory-hence
based upon purely local conditions
and necessities-but is. I'm fact. ma
ton wide. The total yardage 10
date for the first three months OF
the year 1919 is approximately g.
100000. more tha:, three times the
amount of yardage laid during the
entire Il months i'm 1903. when con
crete road construction first begar
Ia get under way.
Also of great significance 10 the
highway contractor is the fact tina
the movement for permanent hard
surfaced trunk line highway.
throughout the United States is an
impersonal one. That is To say. j.
is "a movement that has back OF
primarily an economic force seek
ing an outlet 10 market that viii no
place such a heavy drain upon tn,
product in transit as 10 lessen th'
net profits 10 the producer and in
crease the cost 10 the consumer b,
reason OF excessive and altog the
unnecessary hauling costs in rec n
ing that market.
Result of Public Opinion.
Viewed in this light it viii br
seen az once that where townships
counts or states vote 10 bond TO
hard-surfaced highways. such ac
ton is the direct result of pubu
opinion and public demand organ
ling itself 10 put an end TO vast
in highway maintenance and at IN
same time release the motor-driver
vehicle from the restriction OF un
economic road surfaces. This indi
Gates an impersonal economic move
nent throughout the entire coun
try. helped on by actual knowIe
or relative costs and merits Of diff
ferent types of roads.