The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1919-08-23
TO SPEND
LARGE AMOUNT
FOR ROADS
TOTAL FOR IMPROVEMENT WILL
AMOUNT TO 1915 PER
CAPITA

'A 0oANCJ VI a. ma
good roads program made
by B. r. Goodrich Rubber COM
pany, has revealed the fact that the
total federal. state, and county ap-
preparations to be spent in new con-
struction and maintenance Of the
nations network /. of highways,
amounts to $39O.S94,563. When it
is realized that this sum would build
and duplicate another Panama ca
nal, some idea may be gained of
the extensive highway building cam
paign which will take place through
out the United States this year.
Roughly Goodrich officials esti-
mate that the expenditures for
highway Improvement is approx
mately 1915 per capita; or. to en-
phasize this, each man, woman and
child in the United States would
contribute this much for the build
ing and lettering of roads were tax
alton on such a basis. Were the
expense apportioned out on an aver
age basis each state would paw 81
083,333.
The era of good roads talk has at
last been succeeded by the era of
good roads construction. Public
sentiment is solid!y behind exyens-
i've highway building programs now.
says one of the Goo 1rich highway
correspondents, but ITO enthusiasm
must o wane. The millions being
spent will be spent IN vain unless
states undertake to repair roads as
crickly as they build.
While the amount availabla for
expenditure this year seems stag ger
ing it will not be enough to make
up for deferred war construction,
for normally the amc unit spent on
roads in the United States is well
above $4,000, 900 and the war re-
striction brakes applied brought
road building almost to a stop in
many IOcalltleS.
Three great factors have been
largely responsible for this years
amazing highway expenditures.
First, the incentive for states to
match federal aid appropriations;
second, the passage of enormous
bond issues for good roads in a
states; and third, the attention on
the urgent need of good roads by
the war.
Reports from state highway com-
missioners to the Goodrich officials
contain some interesting individual
features.
Construction in Virginia during
the next six years of 1850 miles of
highway at a cost Of more than
$50. 900 has been approved.
In the New England states Con
%necticut, Massachusetts, Rhode ISL
and, Vermont and New Hampshire
have been interesting in closing
UP short gaps on theip main high
ways, which are other wise improv3G
for the entire distance. The same
condition has been true in New
..pk, where numerous projects arc
bt ;r,- linked u. with an extensive
network of roads which are already
hard surfaced.
One of the features of this years
work will be the completion of the
Dixie Highway, which will be done
by the states cooperating with each
other and with the government. For
instance, in Illinois the highway will
be improved in many spots, one of
which is owe a distance of 54.5
miles at a cost of 1904, 700 and the
construction will be of concrete and
bituminOus macadam. At the same
time Georgia will be working on the
road from Atlanta through to Ma
con, a distance of ~ miles and a
continuation of the Dixie Highway
in that state. In Tennessee and
Kentucky projects are under way
which will further serve to i'm
prove this famous old highway,
which cuts through the central por-
ton of the country from north to
south.
California leads the nation in
highway expenditures with an APP
preparation of 100000 OO, which
exceeds her closest competitor, the
state of Texas, leader of last years
good roads program, by 100000
900. Iowa, Michigan, Ohio. Indiana
and Minnesota rank next to Texas in
expenditures for road building in
the order named.
The realization of the necessity
for good roads apd the enthusiastic
support which the project received