Arizona republican., 1920-12-21
ARIZONA' s ROAD
 PROGRAM RANKS
 HIGH IN NATION
State Engineer Declares This State Second Only To Louisiana In Adopting Federal Aid-Hopes To Obtain U. s. Equipment For Highways

Tor Highways
 --Arizona's proposed highway system as considered Inc second best system in the tS states from national viewpoint, l-c1isisua being the only other state ccrsidercd possibly superior in it's 4acption or federal needs. This opin- lon cf the states road program issued 1ron the bureau Of public roads and ss told Thomas AIaddocl. state engi neer. while In Washington in attend anoe at "a convention of state highway cfnciais
 Alr. AIaddook. who returned yester- cay. brought back news of an encour -seinS nature. in that the price of ce- xnent which dropped 50 cents a barrel at the min in the east and middle west Vgithin the past 60 days, will be reduced sraln before February.
 ~An additional slight reduction over -that of two months ago is expected in Ire early spring. said Mir. Maddock NSc looks for the reduction to reach | tne west at tho same time. In con- crcte paving. he pointed out, cement | runs from 25 10 8 per cent of the makeup.
 Nr. Afaddock also made reference to the attitude Of the secretary relative -to the excess war equipment
 May Obtain Trucks s "The secretary of war has retained much equipment for army service with lhe idea that congress will authorize an army of between four and five mill 1on. It is doubtful if congress appro uriates funds for more than 175,000, and the secretary is receiving some criticism for enlisting 10000 more men than were authorized under the appro- priation which provided for only 175' coo. If congress does not increase the army it will mean additional excess war equipment will be available for high way construction said Mir. Maddock, who secured a car of mixed powder for Arizona and also took up with the fed eral officials the possibility of securing shrec- -Quarter-t trucks which are issiiy needed in both state and county ]. work.
 H. I. Bowicy. who has charge of the Disbursement of excess war equipment 70 the states was former colonel and commanding officer of the engineers battalion in which Maddock served in France and has been most liberal in his dealings with the states. He was particularly interested in Arizona's pro- Eram-an interest that was generally shared
 Afr. NaddoclS said that the associa- ton of state highway officials went on record unanimously in favor of federal aid and with the assistance of the per ronnel of the bureau of public roads Introduced the McArthur bill. which is The Chamberlain bill of last session with a few amendments which benefit public land states of the west.
 Plan Through Roads
 The western state officials formed an organization subordinate to the as- sociation in general in order to handle their own problems, which are some Nhat different from those of the east. The association unanimously opposed she Townsend bill which provided for federal government constructing roads sndependent of the assistance of the states. The new McArthur bill pro- vides federal aid must be spent on Through highways in order to connect rp the state systems into a national highway system.
 ~I learned that Arizona's proposed highway system is considered the sec- crd best from the national viewpoint, Louisiana alone being considered su- -perior in it's adoption to the federal -rceds~
 The bureau of public roads, MT. Mad dock said. had been making investiga- Hons Of type of road construction and road material.
 Tn testing slabs to destruction, the 1o-inch concrete roads and the 10-inch ccmposite brick and concrete roads were the only ones that were not brok- cn. The government is making tests
 
 10 50 different paving slabs and is ex- aming capillary action on subsoils un- der these pavings. It has also tested r4c destruction nearly every type oi waving during the last two years, and 4hc results of these tests will soon bt published They have already showT the destructive effect of heavy truck: on roads. One state at present i; charging Sl5O tax per year on five-tor truclxs and Is proposing a $2,000 tax or neavy types to prohibit sthe use. Tn, majority of highway officials favor linn ftng the use of the highways to truck no larger than five tons. which woult mean the gross weight from 10 to 1 tpns. considering weight of truck an the usual overload. Investigation showed that % per cent of the truck in use are five tons and under, and was contcnded that 1t would be bette 70 build more miles of improved roa to handle the % per cent of traffi than shorter distances capable of stand ing the heavier vehicles"
 Favor Federal Aid
 Nfr. Maddock said that the member rf the house post roads committee ap reared favorable to the continuation federal aid. The annual federal ai requested was less than 10 per cent ( tho administration budget for the arm ard navy.
 sTt is quite possible that the preser personnel of the bureau of public road wiu not be changed by the incomin administration as they have been nor rsrtIsan in their activities, and appar stluy have the support of all the stat Highway departments Mir. MaddoC said.
 Thct the road problems throughol fhc country arc somewhat similar VI; shown by the papers read and discusse and the ideas exchanged, according Mr Maddock.
 ~I really feel very encouraged ov Arizona's road construction, even wh' ~cmpared with older and wealthi sfates." he said.