Arizona republican., 1920-04-18

In a recent number of Public Works" of New York; find article Municipal Sand and Gravel Plants" which touches Maricopa county very closely. Says the writer
 There are very few cities towns or
 villages but require large quantities of sand
 and gravel for concrete for public works and
 all of them, as well as counties require it for
 road building. In it is pur- F chased at disadvantage with
 tain delivery and at high prices when it
 might well, better. be provided by the
 municipality.
 The materials can be excavated stored
 and delivered with a simple equipment
 common labor at cost which there is good
 reason should be greater than that of the $ ordinary producer dealer, securing
 dependence and economy The establishment of such plant plants involves only mod investment of standard equipment,
 which easily be bought and sold in open
 market and will afford employment for
 regular that should dividends their cost, as well as giving opportunity
 for employment regular forces when they cannot be used for their usual work thus keeping up the organization and benefitting
 the
 The lack of such plant we'll of a plant for making other materials used road construction. threatens greatly to delay the execution of county building program upon which entered 90 exutng4y about year ago. Successive calls for bids have brought far, within the reach of he funds available for the complete program. Within week other bids will be opened it will be decided whether shall proceed the ,f good roads whether shall wait until terias become cheaper until the avarice of contractors shall have undergone modification. may mucn liberal than that have been submitted tlle past. contract will be awarded.
 The suggestion several gentlemen who intensely interested in good roads and who have been impatient for the beginning the that perhaps delay would be advisable. Among the suggestions offered has been the investment of the money already received the bonds in securities that might be easily convertible into
  donstruction.
 Another form of relief is said have been offered. reported an agent underwriting firm who lately in Phoenix. stated that account the financial market the sale was with difficulty that his house would cieerfully hold the sales of future nsallments the bonds unless the county actually needed tho proceeds
 It Is not at all likely that contractors ana material will be tractable than they havs been in the past, that the hardly reasonably expect lower figures long their mercy. only remedy apparently, must come legislation giving the county the high way commission the power engage, in connection with it's building program, nishing it's sand and gravel and in the lecture of cement as well. This is power which 1t las discovered is denied the county present which cannot be secured before the meeting of the legislature next January We think that account of the great interest all and the state itself have in this matter this legisla ton could be enacted without difficulty or delay that it might become operative at
 But there is said by the competent attorneys, still another involving less delay. It is claimed by them that the county already the engage n these things but has funds which it is authorized to spend for this purpose. Funds, though. it is said, could be provided by special issue, though under the present law the road bond issue not available. Therein lies the county and the commissions present helplessness.
 The manufacture by county cement is more essential economy road building than the pro- duction and gravel. However reasonable cement manufacturers may with whatever small profit they might be content there is the long haul high freight rate that be