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

dltufe, SUBJECT 10 approval OF the
commission, by the county COM
lmissioners. The state funds ex-
pended in Garfield county, have
mostly been under the latter ar
rangement; notably the canon
road, and usually, as in the pres
ent case, the highway commission
each year provides fixed
amount, which is matched dollar
for dollar by the county.
4.-Finally, we have our direct
county tax for roads and bridges.
This money is appropriated by
the county commissioners to two
funds: the highway fund, which
is used in conjunction with ap-
portionments obtained by or thru
the state highway commission ;
and the road fund, which is used
principally for the ordinary trib-
utary county roads.
In summing up the progress, to
date, OF road construction in or
affecting Garfield county, one
naturally thinks first Of the road
thru our canon and other portions
OF the highway east of the canon.
In the report OF a tour of inspec-
ton by the highway commission,
made last fall, it is stated that
the road would require three or
four years to complete. At the
time (September) the head of the
work was about 5000 feet west
OF the Colorado Power company's
dam. This 5000 feet has been
practically completed during the
past winter, SO that the road is
now virtually IN to the dam. The
commissioners are facing pretty
problem concerning moving the
big steam shovel past the intake
of the power company's tunnel.
The threatened three or four
years time for completion will
be cut down tremendously, in all
probability, because it has been
found that the eastern end of the
road comes within the limits OF
the federal aid act. A survey OF
the section affected has just been
completed, and is the basis for
an application for 100000 out
of the federal post road money.
The survey provides for very
moderate grade. nowhere exceed
ing a I-2 per cent, and all angles
changed to curves with radius
OF not less than 100 feet. This
appropriation land there is every
reason to believe it will be grant
ed). may cut the time needed to
complete the road down to two
years and even less.
Another section of this high
way that is OF vital interest to us
is the Battle mountain road. A
survey of an entirely new road
over the mountain was complet-
ed last. iall and funds have been
provided out of the federal and
state moneys to do the work dur
ing the coming summer. The
new road will have a maximum
grade OF g per cent. and will have
1oo-foot radius on all curves. The
first work is to be done on the
part between Gilman and the
western foot of the grade. which
is the worst part of the existing
road. Some idea of the extent
OF the contemplated improve
ment, may be gained from the re
mark Of the locating engineer, in
his report, that it was one of the
most laborious and difficult
pieces OF fieldwork in his exper-
fence. where a pair OF wings
would have been far more useful
than feet: and from the further
fact that the appropriation con-
templates all expediture of $40
600 per mile of road. Yet, any
one who has ever driven over
this road, will agree that it is
worth any price to get away from
the existing road.
incidentally, it is interesting
to note that the Tennessee pass
route seems to be considered in
a most favorable light by not on
ly the highway commission, but
by the federal good roads bureau
which supervises both the feder-
al aid and forest project work.
One of the engineers of the fed
eral bureau in reporting on the
Independence pass road, dwelt
significantly upon the fact that
Tennessee pass is open for travel
seven months in each year, Ber-
thoud only five months, and In
dependence lives up to its name