Arizona republican., 1920-04-09
ROAD MACHINERY
 WORTH MILLIONS ALMOST AS 4 GIF I
State Engineer Urges Super / visors to Secure Some of
 This Being Sold Cheap by
 the Federal Government

AAO oC1llS oOld o1lCdH NY
 the Federal Government
 Under the Kahn bill. which has lately become a law, providing for the distribution of surplus war material py the war department through the department of agriculture, Arizona nas an opportunity ;, to secure from -Sl.0oo,000 to s1,250.900 worth of ma 'chlnery for use on road construction ut a pitiful fraction of it's present cost. The state, however. is not at present financially prepared to avail itself of this opportunity, but State Engineer Maddock has addressed a letter to the board of supervisors urging them to supply the necessary funds.
 The state engineer has received a list of the available machinery. em- bracing everything that may be need road construction. This is to be sold to the states at 20 per. cent of theI estimate value of 1t more than a year i-ago, since which time it's market value has greatly increased. There may be deducted from this price the cost of the freight to its destination. So the : cost to Arizona would be but little more than the freight.
 Such Machinery Scarce
 Besides securing this machinery at a trifling cost, there would be another advantage. There is just now dearth of such machinery in the hands of contractors, and 1t is on that account that bidding on contracts is much less spirited than it otherwise would be.
 It is believed by the state engineer that the counties may make a portion of the state road tax fund available for this purpose. the amounts contrib uted by them to be refunded by an act of the next legislature, which will con- vene in January. Before that time the counties would not need the money which has accrued to them out of the 75 per cent tax.
 Following is the form of the letter sent out yesterday by the state en- gineer to the county noards:
 Asks Supervisors to Act
 April [, 1920. Board of Supervisors,
 Gentlemen:
 The Kahn bill has become a law. It provides for the distribution of surplus war material by the war department through the agricultural department
 We recently sent you list of equip rnent which may be allotted to Arizona in order for you to make request to supply needs. This law provides that the states shall pay the government 70 per cent of the value Of this equlp- prrient as estimated by, the secretary of aEriculture. provided. however, that freight costs when less than, this zO 1fier cent shall be deducted from It. Freight costs on equipment already
 
 per cent to 50 per cent of the cost or this equipment f. O. b. Arizona points This equipment will therefore, cost 5. the state from 16 to B per cent or what it would cost on the open mar fzet. Delivery also should be better. as equipment is very hard to secure.
 This department realizing that there are very few or well equipped ssontracting firms in the state in com ,earison with the forces needed to con struct roads for which funds have al ready been provided, believes that Afi- zona should now secure her pro rata of this government equipment, pro vfded 1t can be utilized in the near The allotment of this equipment has occurred subsequent to the adjourn nfent of the legislature. No state funds have been provided to pay the government. the freight or the cost or loading unloading and storing thls eo1Iipment The cost of these items on equipment received to date has been paid from the 9 per cent fund Some s150,000 has been expended 10 date on this account This depart- n,rchases for equipment out. of .tPis 25 per cent road tax fund in order to reduce the bookkeeping when movlns equipment from one county 10 ah- other All of the counties are pene fitted by this system in dlrect ~ra'io -.to the expenditures rpade in each-
 Our 9 per cent fund IS now eA- hausted.
 We have used this fund to secure government equipment and store the ssr,e. to maintain our central office 2 and for the payment Of all preln- mary and location surveys on so,uoo'- O0O worth of work. We are also coin- na1led to use our 25 per cent to carry t,sa totaI cost of federal aid projects Intil reimbursed by the government
 T-he only possible source of state funds to pay for this governmen. equipment is the state 70 per cent . road fund. the control or Wnlcn .s : vested jointly with the board of super Sisors and the state engineer. The Legislature will be In regular $ session before over one-haiI or Ine state 75 per cent road una Tor ls-p n should be expended At tna. tune If if is of the opinion that actual con str,,ction is entitled to more funds ap- nrouriations can be made 10 reimburse the state road tax fund Tor the eA- nenditures made In securing e4uip uent the use of which Will De secuLeu Cor a number of years, therepy eithef @ deereasing expenditure for road con -'s,,,cfior, or increasing the amount or road which can be built With the same funds -asoi,,tion which. ff.passed by your board. will authorize tha. state engineer 10 order rom 'he tinted States government tor the uss 1 of the state highway ceparlmeh. equip- -a,,t +o the value of one-thlrd or the ..ste 75 per cent road fund from your county. with the understanding that YOU will honor claims for expenditures made in securing this government equipment ,,t,,;<
 According to the bureau of puolc roa7s it will be necessary Tor us to aa-Tv advise them of what machinery and material we need Please advise as soon as possible of your county saa roaa -,ssIs and your actions on this or some -',.-sIer resolution in order to secure n,achinery and material needed by the
 Yours very truly,
 ,ups THOMAS MADDOCK. State Engineer. .rha following form of resolution to .>.-. adonted by the boards was also