The Glenwood post. (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) 1897-current, 1920-03-06

i
capable man who has consider
able leisure, who understands
this class of work, and who finds
pleasure in devoting time and
thought to public service with
out regard to compensation. But
we can't depend on always hav-
ing such men on the county
board.
want to state, most empha-
tically, that what | am saying
must in no way be considered as
criticising the county commits
sioners, present or past. The
same conditions exist in every
county in Colorado. But it is a
train OF thought aroused by my
inquiry as to the roads that are
lateral to the highway system.
and | do not believe single man
who has had experience as a
county commissioner will dis
pute my conclusion that the sys-
TEN is fundamentally wrong.
Are not these tributary roads
quite as important to us econo-
mically, as the highways. OF
what value are the highways, to
the farmer. if he cannot get to
them from his farm? Ask any
farmer up Cattle creek, about
the road up the creek; ask any
OF our transfers in town about
the road up Fourmile, or up
South Canon. Year after year
it is the same story; bit of lick
and promise work done here,
and another done there, and Of
ten fills dumped into the sink
holes that come back after each
spring thaw or each heavy rain
storm. You can't get any other
results ont OF such a system, and
you can't get money for more
than lick and promise work from
a harassed county board that has
to meet demands with limited
funds from a county over a hun
dred miles long and covering an
acreage as big as whole states
back east.
This fall we are going to vote
on a bond issue OF $4,000 for
the state highway system. The
only criticism of the proposal is
that it isn't enough. California
has just voted $4o,ooo,ooo for
roads By actual results the
highway commissions of states
all over the county have proven
that system and competent plan
ming and supervision, will build
up good roads to an intensive de
gree, And l think the time is
ripe when something of the same
methods should be introduced in
to local road administration. Up
the Roaring Fork and all along
the Grand river you can find in
stances of farmers who couldn't
get their crops to the railway
last fall Down around Grand
Valley, and up Roam creek we
are going to have growing de
mands for roads leading into the
oil shale beds, and they will have
to be built. At the western end
of our county there is a terri
tory more or less undeveloped.
which has been clamoring for
ecession, and which we are sure
to lose some day, unless they
get more attention, and roads is
their great, crying need. Oh
viously the returns in increased
valuation and added tax income
to the county, will largely take
care OF the debt.
The little j have learned in the
course of my inquiries, convin-
ces me that our system of local
roadwork might well be made
the subject OF careful study by
our board of directors, not from
the aspect of results obtained,
which l believe to have been as
good as the system permits, but
entirely from the angle Of wheth-
err some other form of road ad-
'nnistration would not be pro-
ductive OF better results; with
the ultimate object, If my rather
hastily formed conclnaions are
found correct, of iuitiaAinR .
movement that WIN led - what-
ever legislation = Heoded.