Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-08-27
SHALL NEW MEXICO KEEP
STEP WITH THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IN NATIONAL
PROGRESSp
INV DIR. S. M. johnson. !


The real issue to be decided in
the vote on September 20 on the
good roads amendment authorizing
the 100000 state road bond is
sue is<whether or not New Mexico
will keep step with the federal
government and the other forty
seven states in the comprehensive
plan for national progress through
the construction of modern high
ways.
Five years ago congress passed
the Shackleford-B ankhead high
wy act whereby it offered to en-
ter into partnership with the for
ty-eight states for a road-building
program. 1t appropriated $751;
100000 to be allotted to the stateE
to aid them in construction on q
five-year program, requiring that
each state Should by act of the leg
islature accept the provisions of
the act, create a highway commits
sion and make provision to meet
at least half the cost of federal aid
road projects. In addition 1t appro-
priated $10,000.000 for roads on
the national forests on ten-year
construction program, a provision
of special assistance to. the west
ern states.
New Mexico, by act Of the legis-
lature, accepted the federal terms,
and entered into the partnership
which was thus legally established
BY mutual agreement system of
red-line, or federal roads was laid
out and the work began. Then
came the war. with practical sus-
pension Of construction.
Two years ago last spring, the
war effort having been ended, con-
gress added an appropriation OF
5000, 100000 to the original appro-
,priat ton on a three-year program
with $9,000,000 for forest roads,
and work was resumed only to be
retarded by the coal strike, the
embargo on open-top cars, shortage
of labor, excessive costs, etc. BY
act of it's legislature New Mexico
again kept step with congress.
making provision to match a por-
ton of the vast sum placed at it's
disposal by congress.
In order to further stimulate
what all thinking men realized
was vital to American progress,
congress arranged to ship out to
the states without charge such por~
tions of the vast store of leftover
war property as would aid in high
way construction and maintenance.
Again New Mexico kept step and
accepted this equipment until at
present equipment to the value of
about two million dollars is now
in the state, gift from the federal
government, ready at hand to en-
able us to construct roads rapidly
and economically and to maintain
them when once constructed.
Within the past few days the
senate has taken a further step in
the passage of good roads bill
which had already passed the l
house in slightly different form
and which is now in conference /
and sure to pass. This fresh legis-
lation is new invitation to keep |
step with the nation in its road |
program. 1t provides an appropria- |
ton of $75,000,00 to aid the states |
during the current fiscal year |
which began last July first. New |
Mexico will not be required to de-
fray half the cost Of federal aid |
projects, but much less than half, |
because the state derives no reve-
nue. from the Incorporated pub
lie lands. Thus in every possible |
way, by i'll after bill, congress has
encouraged the state and especial
ly the western states. 1t has I'M
dertaken moIe and more of the fl
nancial burden and has done ev-
erything possible to enable the
state to carry out the part of the
program which 1t has assumed.
The situation, therefore, is that
on the five-year program, this state
stands pledged to the nation by
legal enactment and Is also In
honor bound to supply within the
next six months about million
and a quarter dollars to meet fed
eral funds already allotted to this
state and which will be given to
other states If not matched hsre.
The only way whereby this money
can be supplied is through the pro-
posed bond issue. can see no
possible justification either on
of business integrity Or
economies to decline to comply
with the states part Of the con-
tract.
In addition to this, New Mexico
will be offered her share of the
SIS, 100000 available at once upon
much more liberal terms than here
tofore. the state having to pay
about one-third instead of one-half
the cost of fresh federal aid pro-
iects. Laborois now plentiful, and
is sorely needed in
this state to restore the purchasing
power of our citizens, prerequisite
%, prosperity. The cost of struct-
ural steel and all the elements of