Baxter Springs news., 1919-05-09
MBB BOUND ROADS
STATES PROGRAM
Sixty Million Dollars Cost for
Road Projects Now in Ex-
istence or to Be
Begun

Probably the fact that the delegates
to the seventeenth annual convention
Of the Kansas good roads convention
were mired had more TO do with the
success of the convention held In Be
lott, Kan, this week than any other
factor.
Several thousand delegates from
all over the state attended, and most
of them went in motor cars. Fifty
automobiles were left in BelOit after
the convention, because Of the bad
roads, and others did not get there at
all. Wichita delegates had to wait
several days before starting home.
They knew of this even before the
convention ended.
This had a psychological effect on
the sessions, and was a real example
Of the need Of better roads for Kan
sas.
+ Biggest State Program
The biggest good roads program
ever undertaken by any State at one
time was outlined at this convention.
It was announced that nearly 1900
miles Of hard-surfaced roads had been
financed in Kansas, not including city
paving, and that petitions are in cir
ulation for that many more.
J. Frank Smith, general manager
Of the Kansas Good Roads Associa-
ton told the delegates that the time
is at hand for an amendment to the
State Constitution providing for sub
stantial help from the State funds for
the roads be voted at the next general
election. Without State aid, he told
them, the counties are in much the
same position the states would be in
endeavoring to accomplish some ma
tional work without national aid.
"The permanent road and the truck
are expected to supplement extensions
of railroads in many communities and
they will do so as soon as we have a
sufficient amount of good roads con-
structed," said Smith. "There is q
persistent demand for Federal high
ways and Kansas must get ready to
be in shape for such a proposition"
One $55O,OOO Road
Hard roads with construction costs
millions of dollars are being
built at present in Kansas. What is
reported to be the largest single job
of paving ever undertaken in Kansas,
is the road from Wichita to the South
Sumner County line, which it is esti-
mated will cost $55O,OOO. Construc-
ton on this will start at once. A job
which is to cost about 100000 is be-
ing built from Wichita east to the
Butler County line and Butler County
has also begun one to meet it which
will cost at least as much.
But South Central Kansas has no
on good road construction.
The northeastern and southeastern
parts of the State are embarking on
programs running into the millions.
The western part of Kansas, although
more sparsely populated, are clamor-
ing for hard surfaced roads, and will
probably get several hundred miles in
the next few years.
Sixty million dollars as a cost for
road projects now in existence or actu-
ally building is q conservative esti-
mate for the state. With proper state
aid, the more than 100 counties Of
Kansas will, in the next three years,
have spent much more than that
in addition to what has al
ready been spent. One hundred and
fifty million dollars worth of hard
surfaced roads for Kansas country
in 1925 is the optimistic
plan.
It seems to be conceded the best
road is Of brick on an inch sand cush-
lon, with a five to seven inch concrete
oase, varying from five at the sides
10 seven in. the middle of the road.
One Of the newest developments of
he good roads agitation in Kansas is
he appearance Of the city-to-city |
motor express service and passenger
;ravel which has sprung up over the |
lard surfaced roads. Such a service |
n the southeastern part of the state |
8 to be started with Parsons, Cha
lute, Fort Scott, Pittsburg, Columbus,
OswegO and Joplin, No., a sits sta
lions. Western Kansas is beginning |
motor service over the country roads
n a rurnVisinOlv fast rate