The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1919-04-12

thi, mileage. five distinct types ol
hard surfaced roads are shown. The
sections were built as experiment.
and demonstration roads to test the
material available for road construc.
ton. We have there section OF
concrete road a gravel base with AZ
asphalt top section; a section with
gravel base with Taryia top; a sec
tion with concrete base and brick top
and a section OF what is known a,
Topeka specification or a road built
OF asphalt. AS another evidence ,ha,
We do not know jus, which of our
available materials will give the best
service only recently Professor
Tucker, director of the engineering
department at the state university, in
an elaborate article in The Oklaho-
man. suggested tha, II the road bonds
were voted that II would be advisable
10 build a number Of different kinds
of roads and then operate every kind
OF heavy truck and vehicle thereon
day and night in order to ascertain
the proper kinds OF roads 10 be con.
S'ructed with the money derived from
the bonds With the mistakes al
ready made in the use Of our ma
terlalS II IS my contention that until
We are more nearly agreed as to the
proper kinds OF roads TO be built We
should not vote $S0OU0O in bonds
with which TO finance a new inexp.
renccd highway department in max
lng experiments in road building in
Oklahoma.
Money Not Available.
Two years ago We appropriated
some NNrr0 TO meet a like amount
a, federal aid allotted TO Oklahoma
OF this sum only a small amount has
been actually expended, less than
$4,000 allotted and over 10000
remains for immediate expenditure in
building roads. At the same time we
appropriated S2,0OO0cO as state aid
to the counties OF the state and Of
this appropriation there remains al.
most million and a half Immediately
available tor expenditure in the re-
'pcctl'c counties m preparing the
roads for hard Sur'aCmg later. Il
docs not require expert engineering
knowledge 10 know that before hard
surface can be laid the roads must he
graded, drainage must be perfected.
and culycrtS and bridges must be con
'tructei The grading Shoild be done
long IN ayancc OF the suriaciug To
the end that the road may be thor
ouphIy settled before being finished
with the hard surface. In addition 10
the above funds there is now allotted
to this state out Of federal aprpopria-
tons available now and within the
next two years the sum OF approx
matcly SbOOOOU on the condition
that We uret such sum with a like
amount. II W. had made this appro
ptia'ion during the recent session as
! many times proposed we%ould have
had today total sum in excess of
thirteen and one half million dollars
available for road improvement. This
vast sum OF money could have been
made available without a special cleo
ton, without bond issue, without,
any sort OF county cooperation and
without any amendment TO existing
law other than an appropriation OF
some SSUDWD per year for the next
two years. Ii the states are success
tul in road building our representa-
ilves in congress will see that the fed
eral government appropriates suifi-
cient funds 10 meet state appropria-
tions Just as long as il is necessary
To complete the sys,cm-embracing
every state in the nation. Under the
present constitutional limit of 81
mills Tor state purposes and under
present law We can raise some SILL
0oOO annually for public expendi-
ture. In addition TO the Appropria-
tlons Just made we could have met
the federal aid and then not have
reached the limit OF 3H mills.
What Should Be Done.
The people should not approve the
100000 bond resolution. II it is de-
iedied a universal demand will be
made for special session Of the leg
stature TO appropriate funds TO meet
the allotment rendered us by the gov
ernment Such special session can be
called, the bills prepared in advance
and the session should not last to ex-
coed ten DAYS and should not cost in
excess Of $4,000 This procedure will
eliminate the $S00OOoO0 mortgage on
the state; will avoid the creation Of a
second duplicated highway depart
mcnt; will eliminate the payment OF
some S2'oc0Oo0 in interest charges
and will save to the people at least l.,
5M miles OF hard-suriaced road,
which, under the bond plan Of financ-
ing, will be lost in interest and ad-