The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1921-11-22
FEDERAL HIGHWAY ENGINEER MET
c. OF c. and CO. COMMISSIONERS
PRESENTS SOME FIGURES ON ESTIMATED COST OF
HARD-SURFACINC ROADS
SPECIAL HIGHWAY TAX THE ONLY REMEDY
This Seems Be the Most Practical Thing Do Hsrdufac
ing is Out of the Question and Our Road Revenues
inadequate at the Present Time

At a special called session Of the
Chamber Of Commerce with the Coun-
ty Judge and a part Of the commits
sion, the Federal Highway Engineer,
Mr. Messigman, spoke at length Mon
day morning upon the problems and
possible solutions confronting this
and other South Plains counties in
the proper treatment and maintain
ance Of the highways thru this sec
ton.
or greatest interest to the men in
attendance at this meeting was his
estimates Of the cost Of constructing
and maintaining a hard surfaced
highway as is being built by other
counties over the state. From es-
Inmates made in Lamb County, Chill
dress County, Potter County and
many Of the central state counties
L Is found that IL costs approximate
ly $4,000 per mile to properly grade
highways preparatory TO surfacing
them with gravel or concrete. The
cost Of grayeling the roads after they
are properly graded is approximately
$1,000 per mile-making a total min
imum cost Of more than SIP 600 per
mile Of highway In this county with
l05 miles Of highway IL would cost
considerably more than a million dol
lars 70 construct hard surfaced high
ways across the county in each de
rection.
In addition to this initial cost
which would have TO be taken care
Of each year thru the payment Of 5
percent interest and a like percent
sinking fund-it would be necessary
to spend approximately $3.50 per mile
per year to maintain these roads.
This would run the total cost up TO
more than $500 per mile per year
for every miie Of hard surfaced high
ways in Lubbock County.
All Of this was not brought out in
an effort 20 start an agitation to
build hard surfaced roads-even tho
the State and Federal governments
would stand half the cost Of such
construction. but 20 emphasize the
extreme impossihility the present
commissioners are up against in main
tanning good roads in this county with
a total yearly appropriation Of Sl3,-
600 about $4,000 Of which goes to
pay interest on the bonded indebted
ness Of the road department.
In short, rather than to talk high
soundingy about hard-surfacing
hundred miles of highway in this
county through bond issue Of some
$500, 600 10 Is a better policy TO take
steps 90 provide a decent fund Of
from $50 600 to $4,000 per year for
the present commissioners TO take
fare IF the roads,-at a less cost
than would be necessary after the
hard-surfacing was completed, all
under the supervision Of a highway
engineer whose expenses could be
pro-rated between three or four cOun-
tics In this section.
The highway problem in this coun-
ty is growing more acute with each
months growth Of the section. The
County Commissioners have accomp-
lished no less than absolute wonders
in view Of the measley sum they have
at their disposal and still our roads
steadily grow worse. Increased traf-
n, and decreased finances do not inn
prove the conditions Of highways
and that is the situation this county
is confronted with in the matter Of
proper highways
The wear and tear on the 1900
automobiles and trucks in this coun-
ty each year will amount to double
the reasonable cosf Of putting these
roads into fairly lod condition. That
does not include The loss Of time and
added cost Of hauling products TO the
markets Of the county.
An Of these problems are acute
problems. not only Of the commits
sioners, but Of the citizens Of the en-
tire county. The commissioners are
willing 20 do the very best they can
do with the limited amount Of road
funds that they have at their COM
mand. II is up 20 the citizenship Of
the county to provide additional
funds in the way Of a special high
way tax and that is a question that
must be discussed and talked thor
ouRhly in every community in the
county so that all citizens may ap-
preciate It's importance before Il Is
called for a vote.
Make haste slowiv-But Think.