Imperial Valley press., 1920-01-30

The Automobile Dealers AssOcia-
tiOn of Imperial Valley has declar-
ed open war on the alleged plan Of
the county highway commission to
use Warrenite i'm construction Of
the paved highway system.
Letters to the board of supervisors.
the county highway commission and
to members of each board individual
ly sent today carried a demand that
concrete be used.
In the letter many charges rumored
heretofore on the streets are set down
in writing for the first time. The let
ter is as follows:
January 29, 1920.
Mr. F. s. Lack, Highway Commissioner
Brawley, Calf.
Dear Sir:-At a meeting of the Auto
Dealers Association on the evening of
January 28th, 1920, following discus
sion of highways and their construction
it was unanimously agreed that this as
sociation protest the use of anything
but concrete in the construction of our
county highways. 1t was also decided
and a committee of five members be
appointed to wait upon the highway
cOitlHllSSlOIl anu OtuCiS III GIL ~
to convince that body, the board Of su-
pervisors, and the public in general OF
the necessity of building concrete roads
only-as are adopted by the various
states and the United States govern
ment where substantial construction
and economy are paramount
This organization, and we believe the
public in general were led to believe
that concrete only was to be used in
the construction of our highways. How
ever. it has come to our attention that
one member of the highway commits
sion made statement substantially as
follows: That asphalt or Warrenite
would be used whether the public lik-
ed it or not
1t is our opinion that 'Warrenite' or
asphalt construction does not possess
the lasting qualities, and is considered
second class construction by the state
highway commission and the United
States government, and that is far
more expensive in both first keep and
upkeep. We are also of the opinion
that it is not suited to our local con-
dtion, or needs in either point OF cost,
upkeep, or quality.
1nefe Is DGODdOlN Io OthVl VI 6esAh%
ton or body of men in the Imperial
Valley who are all so vitality interest
ed nor as well posted in matters per-
tanning to ROADS and other matters
of Transportation. With all due respect
for the integrity, and good Judgment OF,
our highway commission and board OF
supervisions, we do not feel that the
power be exercised by any few men to
say that all of the many thousands OF
our taxpayers dollars be wasted In
part or in whole in the construction OF
class of roads that are not at least
sufficient to our needs.
There is of course much to be saiu
| in favor of both asphalt and concrete
| construction, but we have yet TO learn
of an instance where asphalt, bitu-
min or some OF the patented processes
that the taxpayer pays somebody a
ROYALTY for using) has compared even
favorably with the cement highway
that has been so thoroughly tried and
proven in state and national construc-
tions
And now the Automobile Dealers As.
sociation OF Imperial Valley, does at
this time request and demand of the
highway commissioners OF Imperial
county and the board OF supervisors OF
Imperial county, that no contract OF
any kind whatsoever pertaining 70 the
material to be used in the contemplated
/ highways TO be constructed, be award
ed, either in part or whole. until SAID
specifications covering all work for said
highways have been submitted to and
approved by the board OF consulting en-
gineers OF the state highway coinfnis
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