The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-04-13
THE HIGHWAY BOND ISSUE

bond issue OF 100000, 900 for build
ing concrete roads in Louisiana IS
feasible, according to some OF its ad-
vocates, if the state will levy a tax
of one cent per gallon on gasoline lof
the purpo5e of raising additional rev
epue for the redemption Of the bonds
While good roads are necessity
and the need for road improvement
4 pronounced in many parts OF the
state why is it proposed to limit the
construction to one type of road? A
well constructed state highway sys-
tenn Is something to be desired,
hond issue and federal aid to finance
II are essential, but the requirement
should be along the lines OF sound
engineering experience and Judg-
meut in conformity with common
sense. the needs Of the state and the
ability Of the people to pay.
The proposal to specify by law the
money shall be expended for concrete
roads is to usurp the function Of the
engineer, for it there is one duty which
the engineer is called upon to pre-
form. in the light Of his abundant
technical training and practical ex
perience and after careful study
of local conditions, it is the selection
of the type of pavement which should
be laid on a given highway. Why
maintain an engineering department
If the lawmakers are to exercise engin
eering functions? Types of pave
ments ought not to be selected with
out preliminary knowledge as to the
Individual projects, especially as to
traffic, soil, accessibility Of materials,
cost, etc.
The one safeguard which the tax
payer has against extortion or Excess
sive cost in publis contracts is COM
petitive bidding. Any progressive
highway measure should seek to Sc
cure for the taxpayer the benefit Of
the keenest possible competition.
How can our highway officials secure
for us the maximum return in SER
yiceable highways if, instead of en-
couraging competition, we prohibit
It? The proposed measure delibera-
teIy eliminates competition. Even If it
were considered desirable to build buc
one type of pavement, why relieve
builders of that type of pavement from
the necessity OF competing with other
types. There are, in many parts CT
this state, ample supplies of local mat
eriaIs that can be used in the con-
struction OF roads. Why not use
these where possible?
All highways are not equal in i'm
portance All do not require the
same degree of excellence in constrgc-
ton, There are roads in this state
that can be adequately improved at
comparatively little cost To pc sify
in legislation only an expensive type
is to bring about mileoge of ex-
pensive highways beyond the ability Of
the people to finance. The Illinois
legislature now has before it a meas
ure which revolutionizes the entire
system Of road construction in that
state by opening up competition among
types. According to the Chicago Tri-
bune, the purpose of this measure is
to investigate and report the senti-
ment for and advisability of chang
ing the construction to be lsed on
bond issue (where practican from
cement or brick to some other con.
struction.
Local material may be used to good
some of it in one type of
pavement and some in another, thus
avoiding 'o-7 az expensive railroad
hauls AM he pavement Of large
proportion CT the cost for a manufact-
ture 4 product. II this state is to be
bonded to the extend of S30.OO0.OO9 for
the better roads, the officials should
see to j. that the state receives a dol
Ior's worth of the best and most prac-
tical road pavement for every dollar
expended. Why make it impossible
to use simple methods and simple ma
terdals where these will serve the pur-
pose? Why force the state highway
system to be expensive, arbitrary, in
adaptable and onopolistic by legisla.
ton! ~ szt