New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-09-05
FEDERAL AID ROAD PRO.
yECTS IN NEW MEXICO

possible on the enactment OF inc
New Mexico State Highway Act, ap-
proved March 9, 1917, asserting to
the terms Of the Federal Post Road
Act approved July II, 1916. Since
then the New Mexico highway de-
partment has organized thirty-nine
projects. Though the work has been
prosecuted diligently, the progress
has been slow as the rules and reg
ulations laid down by the Federal
road authorities provide complicat-
ed process of procedure to bring a
project from the initial stage to the
final signing of the project agree
ment No Federal funds are avail
able until the project agreement has
been signed
The progress in obtaining Federal
road ala New Mexico has compare
lively beer rapid rs will appear from
nent OF Agriculture. Up to Iune
80. lti9. cnly 81 project agreement
had E,en signed, involving 'otll
mileage Of S,77639 miles of ROAD N
the entire country to cost $50 o,3o7,-
$500 New Mexico a thinly settled
state has already seven projects un-
der construction involving a mileage
of nearly one hundred miles.
Of the thirty-nine Federal aid pro-
jects initiated in New Mexico, seven
have been fully approved and con-
struction under way, involving 9o32S
miles at a total cost OF S95l O09 AZ.
Two other projects have been ap-
proved and bids for their construc-
tion will be opened the middle OF
the month, involving 1882 miles OF
road, estimated cost %4,l2473. One
project has been approved, but the
construction deferred. Plans and
specifications are ready to be sent
in to the department for approval
of two projects, involving 1862 mile 5
of road, estimated cost S359O6l %
Projects statements have been ap.
proved for eight projects involving
1902 miles. estimated cost 624,54l..
~. These are being surveyed and
plans being prepared. Projects state
ments have been sent in for approval
for twelve projects, involving 2l4.s
miles, estimated cost 81 ,260,3 ,354.23
Project statements are being pre-
pared for four projects, no figures
having yet been definitely fixed OF
the mileage and cost. One projec,
has been disapproved by the Agri-
cultural Department. Two projects
have been withdrawn on the request
of county commissioners who want
ed other projects substituted in their
counties.
The total mileage OF projects un-
der construction, of projects approv-
cd and dnxun 70 FOR (which
statements are being prepared, Is
83 287 miles OF road. The estimated
total cost is 1887, ,2l88l. The gov.
ernment will pay half of the cost
the state to provide the other half
The counties in which the projects
are located are contributing out oi
county levies. The state and coun-
ties must therefore provide Sl,688,.
6O940 to meet Federal aid on these
projects.
Projects have already been start.
ed in all but three counties in the
state: Otero, Socorro, and Torrance
Three projects are under contempla-
tion in Otero, one in Socorro, and
one in Torrance counties. The loca-
tion of projects is determined by
agreement between the county com
missioners and the state highway
department. 1t is the plan that both
state and Federal aid shall be equit.
ably distributed to the counties on
the basis of the assessed valuation
taxes.
The following summary of pro-
lects is taken from a report on al
projects just prepared by the state
highway engineer Leslie A. Gillett:
Seven projects under construction
at the present are as follows:
Project No. IA is 97lS miles long
to cost $l40,369M Construction il
by contract and is expected to be
completed by January lst. This i.
a section of the "Camino REAR from
Ration north to the Colorado line.
Project No. is 9.32 miles to cost
s9o,033.23, Construction is by contrac,
and is expected to be completed
Jan. lst. This is a section OF the
Santa Fe Trail from Santa Fe to
Pankey'S gate.
Project No. is 20.62 miles TO cos,
H4,268.74. Construction is partly BY
contract and partly force account and
expected to be completed by April
lst. This is in Valencia county from
Rio Puerco to Armijo.
Project No. is Fl 8 miles to cos,
Sll2,575.l8. Construction is by con-
tract and expected to be completed
by Jan. lst. This is Quay county
between Tucumcari and Montoya.
Project No. 8 is 49 miles to cost
%3,78778. Construction is on force
aoA a. H.. t-t
ed Jan. lst. This is a section oi
Roswell-Lovington road across the
Mescalero sands.
Project No. II is 1910 miles to
cost sl457s7. 90 Construction is by
contract and expected to be COM
pleted Jan. lst. This road runs from
Roswell TO Comanche Springs.
Project No. Is is l6S miles 10
cost S305.27s24 Construction is BY
oontrart and expected to be COM
pleted Nav lst This IS a concrete
road from Las Cruces 70 Mesquit.
Bids are being advertised for the
following:
Project No. II IS $50 miles. estim-
ated cost s36.l256S. This is in Lin
coin county on the Roswell-Carrizozo
road from the Fl. Stanton reserya-
tion to the forest reserve line. Bids
TO be opened Sept. ls'h.
Project No. l6 is s432 miles. es-
timated cost s37oooo5 This is a
section OF the Carlsbad-LovinFton
road across deep sands in Lea Gown
ty. Bids will be opened Sept. 10th
Construction has been deferred on
project No which is IA miles
and estimated cost Sl08O67T This
IS section of the Ocate-Cimarron
rnnd In Mora Cnr1rtr