The Glenwood post., 1919-01-04
GRE1 PLANS FOR
STATE HIGHWAYS

submission to the voters of the state
at the next general election of con
stitutional amendment authorizing the
issuance of twenty millions of dollars
in road bonds, to be used for the com
pletion of the stat, highways system.
was approved at Il meeting of the
heads of state and city commercial,
automobile and highways associations
at the Denver Athlet club Tuesday
afternoon. S. E. Norton, who presided
at the meeting, was authorized to ap-
point a legislative committee of fiji
teen persons representing every sec
ton of the state, to work for the adop.
ton of tine bill by the twenty
general assembly.
Tentative plans for the expenditure
of the funds realized thru the sale of
the road bonds were presented by State
Highway Commissioner T. j. Ehrhart.
The plans call for the paving of 400
miles of highway, and the grading and
urdindSe OF 900 mites uuliiS the lth'
year period following the issuance of
the first bonds.
That millions of dollars will lie
brought to the state thru the compile
ton of the road system by Paving
principal highways and grading and
leveling others was the concensus of
| npipinp of thoSo nraSput
The first issue of bonds, as proposed
in the resolution, will be dated June l,
1921, and subsequent issues not to eX-
ceed one million dollars, will be made
each year thereafter until TIL" total
amount has been issued. During the
first two years larger sum may be
issued. The interest on the bonds Will
be ) per cent, payable semi-annually,
and the bonds payable fifty years from
the date of issuance.
Considerable discussion as to the
amount to be asked for the road bond
issue took place at the meeting. Altho
the general opinion heretofore eX-
pressed, that $25, 100000 would be
asked was prevalent, $20,000,O00 was
the sum agreed upon by those present.
Estimates for the expenditure of So
OOO, 900 and $l2,500000 were presented
bv Highway Commissioner Ehrhart,
but when the sum of $2O,O00,OOO was
proposed by f. f. Sommers, state high
way commissioner, it was approved
unanimously
In proposing this sum Mr.. Sommers
said: "The people of Colorado are
fully aware by this time of the i'm
portance of the construction of GOOD
roads thruout the state. Twenty mil
lions undoubtedly are needed fo' the
completion of the highway system, AMI
the taxpayers, used to dealing In large
amounts during the war will not, in
nv opinion, hesitate to do thoro job
of road building, as they have done a
thoro Job in the backing of war work. -
! ]. S. Flower, president of the Den
I yer Real Estate exchange, asked what
disposition would be made of funds
from the present half mill tax levy N
the event of the passage of the twenty
million dollar road bond issue. High
way Commissioner Ehrhart replled mat
such funds would be used only for the
maintenance of roads, as the amount
realized from the levy would be insnf-
ficient to cover additional road con-
struction work.
In reply to inquiries as to whether
the vote upon the bond issue would be
confined to property owners, Commis-
sioner Ehrhart said that in his opinion
it would be so limited.
Secretary of State James X. Noland
INQUIRED of Ehrhart whether he had
investigated the possibilities of procur'
ing dollar for dollar aid from the fed
eral government in connection with the
bond issue.
"The federal government will not
meet us with dollar-for- dollar assist
ance in connection with the bond Is
ale,n stated Mr.. Ehrhart. "Federal
road funds for the period to and in
cludinp 1920 already have been dis
posed of. We will continue to receive
the present assistance from the ma
tional government
"You all realize the necessity ot
paved roads for the state, inasmuch
as they will open our vast areas OF
undeveloped land, giving transporta
ton for the farmer to the railroads
and caring for numerous inland points
which have no facilities except the
motor truck for transportation, said
S. F.. Norton. "Good roads will de-
velop our tourist business, inviting
| 4ho,,snnis of nnnnle to Colorado bY