New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-11-11
ROAD BUILDING IN
NEW MEXICO AS 1T AP-
PEARS TO TEXAS PAPER
By George P. Calvin, Manager the
Berger Manufacturing Co., of
Dallas.

Dallas.
A GOOD treat and surprising ex-
perience is in store for those who
might use the highways of New
Mexico. When we consider the square
miles of that State and its population,
much credit is due its citizenship for
the enthusiasm and hard work that
has been necessary to bring their
highways to the present excellent con-
dition they are now in. People of
any State may be enthusiastic over
good roads and NAV encourage bond
issues and permit themselves to be
taxed for the building Of good roads,
nevertheless. bond issues ard road
tax is the only means by which good,
substantial, well laid and well sury-
eyed highways are built. Therefore,
congratulations must be extended to
the people Of New Mexico for Gre
7rirE the funds for the building OF
highways.
These excellent roadways, winding
around the mountains OF Mora Coun-
~ and passing through the plains
II Union County, represent the high
est type Of engineering ability, New
Mexico is really fortunate to have
At the head OF the State Highway
Department, Mr.. Leslie A. Gillett,
State Highway Engineer. Mr.. Gillett's
ability and experience in road build
ing is fully eXemplified by the con-
ditions and construction of these
excellent highways in New Mexico and
there are few states so fortunate to
have a. their state highway engineer,
any one better qualified or more eX-
pcricnccd than Mr.. Gillett.
The State Highway Department of
New Mexico is one of the best or
gained highway departments in the
country and Won will find Mr. Charles
\. Nav, assistant to the State High
way Engineer n real road building
enthusiast.
Mr. May is extremely interested
in his work and has unquestionablv
saved the State of New Mexico much
none because of his keen interest
and ability to build highways at a
minimum cost.
Patrol system
Al must admit that the building
and maintenance OF a modern high
way is a genuine engineering prob
lem. Nevertheless their maintenance
of a highway, after once constructed,
is frequently overlooked by good road
enthusiasts and this is frequently be
cause of not making proper main
%tenance provision. The best built
highway in the world will not give
satisfactory results permanently unless
there are funds appropriated and a
system ~inaugurated TO maintain that
highway in its original good condi-
ton. This is where the State High
way Department of New Mexico has
cscrciscd crcditable Judgment and has
inaugurated a patrol system on their
roads that is worthy of the conSid-
Grafton of any State or county en-
gineer interested in the building of
good roads.
Illustration No. !. accompanying
this article shows one OF the real &c
onomical and satisfactory patrol svs-
TENS practiced in the State of New
Mexico. Arrangement is made with
a citizen living along the highway
TO drag the road at certain intervals
and particularly after a rainfall. This,
al course. puts the road in excellent
condition covering mp all ruts and
n oood drainage.
The illustration shows what one
might call extreme but practical &C.
Some advantage might be
obtained over this type OF float drag
by the use of a metal cutting edge
bur in The State of New Mcvi,o they
have attained very satisfactory results
by dragging the roads following n
rain with a wooden float drag as
illustrated. pulled by a motor car.
This patrol being regularly IN force.
keeps New Mexico roads in the very
best of condition. or course this kind
Of maintenance is not applicable to
hard surface or plastic surface high
however, when we consider
the great mileage of gravel. Sand. dirt
and macadam roads not only in New
Mexico but in all states, this or SIM
lar patrol systems is well worth con-
sidering because a well and regularly
maintained cheap dirt or gravel road
IS far better than a high priced road
hat has been left uncared for and
At the mercy of motor wheels and
he elements.
Gravel Surface
Illustration No. 2 shows very clear
V the high type and excellent con-
iition of the class of gravel-surfaced
highways being built in the State
" New Mexico. The one illustrated
here is a standard gravel-surfaced
from Roswell to Comanche
and leading directly into the
state OF Texas. Ii is needless to say
hat any one enjoying the comforts
nd benefits OF a magnificent road
# this kind would naturally be a
,ood roads enthusiast. AT the spe- f,
ial election September 10th and 2lst,
he New Mexico State Legislature will
Ct on a road bond to enable the :
Department to continue
rogram of road building and to en- :
by the Federal aid and TO receive !
the United States Treasury the
'ederal aid money allowed the State ,
( New Mexico. =
II is to be hoDed that the good I
eople OF New Mexico will continue I
heir program Of road building. y
Culverts and DRAINAGE
\ patrol system for maintaining the 4
ighways is deserving of serious con-
Iteration: nevertheless. it is admit 4
d by pioneer road builders that one D
( the most essential features to the n
ermanency Of any highway is PROV (,