New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-10-28
STATE HIGHWAY CONSTRUC-
TlON BEING RAPIDLY PUSH
ED ALL OVER THE STATE

state HIGHWAY Engineer, l.. A. Oil-
lett returned during the week from
the northwestern part of the state
where he spent ten days laying out
/ highway projects in the field on the
primary system of roads as now out
lined by the State Highway Commits
soin and Engineer
Among the projects considered were
that portion OF road running from
Maxwell Junction through French,
Maxwell, Springer and Colmer to the
south line of Colfax county, dis
tance of IS miles. This will be a
gravel surfaced road throughout and
will complete the sixty miles of high
way No. |, which lies in Colfax coun-
ty from the Colorado state line to
the south line of the county This
thirty-five miles is being plated and
estimated and the contract for its con-
struction will be let in time for its
completion during 1922 This is in
line with the State Highway policy
which is to complete the main roads
in each county at the earliest pos
sible time.
While in Union county Mr.. Gillett
also viewed Road No. 81, which ex-
tends from Ration to Clayton. This
road will be .graveled surfaced for
ten miles in an easterly direction from
the city of Ration. and eight miles
easterly from the east line of Colfax
county, during the coming summer.
These two stretches are the portions
of the road running through more
thckly settled farming communities
and in which localities it is intended
to execute the best construction. The
balance of this road in Colfax coun-
ty is over high country where a grad
ed road is satisfactory.
The Union county portion of this
same road from the west line of the
county TO Des Moines a distance of
eleven miles will also be graveled
surface. This is also through thick
ly settled farming country where the
production of wheat and other grains
are heavy. Some farmers in that sec
tion produced between FORTY and for
ty-five bushels per acre during the
present year and Mr.. Gillett estimates
the average wheat crop of northern
Union County to be about twenty
five bushels this year.
From Clayton north to the Cim-
arron valley-a section not hereto
fore easily accessible partly surfac-
ed and partly non-surfaced road will
also be constructed in the very near
future. The details of this project
have not yet been worked out but
il is a much needed outlet for the
part of Union county,
which is a fine farming and cattle
raising section.
In Harding county Mr. Gillett COM
pleted a preliminary investigation for
through road for that county. The
in this case to be used
by the State Highway Commission
IN planning the location and character
Of the road ultimately to be con-
When these needs are de-
the first project in that coun-
" will be let and the first link con-
structed.
In San Miguel county Project No
78 which extends from Watrous to
Las Vegas. a part of main highway
No. |, two miles immediately north
If the city Of Las Vegas, which was
eft out of former contract on ae-
,ount of insufficient budget funds, will
De completed.
Mr.. Gillett also visited Torrance
county and planned Project No. l9,
Abo Canyon road, which will be gra-
,eied surfaced from Willard extend
ng toward the Salt Lake region. Here
low type grade is already built
through slippery clay which Is very
lifficult to travel in wet weather.
Mr.. Giiiett will leave again this week
or Quay, Curry. Guadalupe and De
3aca counties. where he will investi-
rate and plan projects for construc-
ion during the coming year. =.
The State Highway Commission and
Engineer are certainly getting ex-
ensive and rapid results at this time.
Yearly forty construction camps are
low operating in the state. Two more
for which bids have been
are to be let on November
nd. and these will be followed by
ais for bids on a few more projects
o he constructed in December.
At the present rate Of construction
n of the counties in this state which
ave sufficient financial resources to
ntitle them to road construction IN
cooperation with state and Federal
id. will within the next three years,
nioy the advantage Of highways
which are second to none in the west.
1