The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-18
Allen Announces Plan to Cut
Kansas Highway Cost.
Will Order Survey of Building
Material i'm State.
REDUCTION TO Be 10 Per CENT
Immediate "PrOfit," $2,4O0,0OO
Moore the Investigator.
Geologist to Cooperate With
Oil and Road Departments.

Saving of s2.40O,O0O on present
highway construction in Kansas and
reduction of ten per cent in future
expense for road building. rs proposed
by Governor Allen. The governor to-
day outlined plans for state surveys of
road building materials with a view
of advising contractors and engineers
as TO materials available in communi-
ties where hard surface road contracts
are let.
Under the plan announced by the
governor the survey will be in charge
of Raymond c. Moore. state geologist.
Moore will make Investigations as to
quality and quantity of building stone
in various localities. He will also
gather detailed information as 10
ava liable supplies of gravel, chat and
sand as well as transportation facil-
tiles for brick and cement The in
formation will be placed in hands OF
engineers in various counties and will
be available for BIDDERS when con-
tracts for new highways are let.
Conference Next Week.
Not only will the information ! }
! of value to the state on future con-
/ tracts, but will result in a number of
| big savings on contracts already held
! by bidders. The governor will out
! line his plan in a conference with
Moore in Topeka next week. He will
also discuss in detail a plan an
| nounced some time ago for an inten-
slVe survey IF mineral conditions in
the state and an extension of the work
of the state oil inspection department.
1t IS the governors plan to provide
geological surveys for, various oil fields
Tor information OF the state blue sky
department in granting stock selling
permits.
AS result of the new work out
lined by the governor. il is proba BILE
that the state geological department
may be moved to the state house and
perhaps consolidated with the oil in
spection department. The geologist
ana his assistants would work both
with the state oil inspector and en-
gineers for the state highway com
mission. A liberal appropriation for
the geological department will be
urged by Governor Allen before the
next legislature. Moore will doubt
less he be provided with a number OF
assistants. in order to carry out the
new work planned by the governor
Cause Lower Bids.
Il have no doubt" Governor Allen
stated today. that Kansas easily can
effect a saving of at least 10 per cent
in the cost of all hard surface road
building in the state. This can be
brought about thru surveys of build =
ing materials in the various commune
ties Much lower bids could be Sc
3 cured if reliable information were
available to contractors as to building
stone. sand. gravel and other ma =
terials which may be secured in COM
: munitics where the road work is to
be done.
! AT present the state has more tina n
twenty-four million dollars worth OF
permanent road work under way.
These roads are either being actually
! built or contracts let or federal aid
approved. Information such as may
be secured thru the geological depart
ment would save nearly $4,000 900 on
the cost of this work"