Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-03-15
HIGHWAY BOND ISSUE.


The Importance of highways is
fully appreciated by the people of
New Mexico. They also are quite
conversant with the fact that much
less road building viii be possible
than was expected, before labor
wages advanced and material be-
came scarce and high. The high
rates of state and federal taxes
will be taken into consideration in
the months in which the citizens
should give study to the question
i, of a bond issue. They very en-
phatically voted down a PROPOSE
ton which it was believed would
permit legislature to authorize
road bonds without restriction.
But it does not follow that the OBJ
lection to taking risks of unlimited
tells the defeat of the plan to incur
limited specific obligation of but
one million dollars for certain
projects, most of which are out
lined and shown to be distributed
among the many localities, and to
be supplemented by others.
Economic conditions which may
be altered before the November
election will be taken into consid-
Grafton bye taxpayers, who should
not permit interest in politics to
cause inattention to so important
matters as highways and any obli-
cations that mean additional tax
alton and additional local and
state benefits
The state highway commission
has issued a statement concerning
work done and proposed for fed
eral highway aid projects, The
statement goes into details with
regard to funds available and the
necessity Of million dollar bond
issue by approval of voters at the
November election.
The commission has been very
energetic in furthering the COM
prehensive road Improvements con-
templated when the legislature of
it possible to secure federal aid
construction of highways. All
plans have had to be held i'm abey-
ance until the federal government
agencies have approved, so work
has gone forward on the roads
more slowly than the public eX-
pected. Some projects are well
advanced and completion of sew
eral is near. The higher costs of
materials and of labor have caused
estimates to be greatly exceeded
in some cases and bids for con-
struction rejected.
There has been an attempt to
give every county as large a share
OF immediate road development as
possible, in a spirit of equity.
There is at least one federal aid
propect, proposed in each county
of the state. More projects will
be added as fast as surveys and
plans can be made and the fin
lnanced program in the respective
counties will allow. Forty-nino
outlined projects are expected to
cost approximately five million
dollars.
State highway funds, approx
mating s1,750,00O for each of the
three years, will be deposited with
the state treasurer to the credit of
the state road fund, and are appor-
TONED for expenditure in the re-
spective counties of the state on a
basis of assessed valuation and per-
d centage Of tax collections.
The federal funds allotted are
apportioned to the respective coun-
ties for expenditure therein IN The
same basis as the state funds. Tho
allotment for the three years By
the government is approximately
the same for the last two years
Eit quarter of 4 million less for
The present fiscal year.
The commission computation is
that the financial call upon the
state To meet federal aid funds
ava liable is f43S9,7Al Thai
while estimated receiiEs by the
STATE under laws of 1912 for sucl
j urpose for 1920-21-92 Nin tota
Sc 100000, tnis sum will no-
suffice to meet dollar for dollar
the millions allotted to New Mex
ico by the federal government on {
, fifty-fifty basir From estimated
receipts of the state above shown
there must be used approximate,
$625,00O.00 each year to take carr
of the maintenance of the mair
highways of the state, surveys ant
plans on federal aid projects, in
terest and principal on the 1911:
highway bonds, district engineer
and Santa Fe office expenses
4 emergency state aid work, interes
on debentures, etc, making al
amount necessary for expenditur,
for purposes other than to NEE
federal allotments in the three
years of $1,S75, 10000.
The state will therefore fal
short $1,06S, 79461, it is said. o
meeting the government allot
ments, unless the million dollar
bond issue submitted to a vote O.
the people by the legislature O.
1919 be authorized at the polls.