Arizona republican., 1921-02-12

which shall, during the year. make a
careful investigation Of modern road
construction methods and investigate
thoroughly the operation of highway
commissions in states with conditions
similar to Arizona, for the purpose,
should investigations justify of pre-
senting to the next meeting of the
legislature fullest information, accom-
panied by a draft of a constructive,
practical highway commission meas
ure
The next speaker was E. S. Wheeler,
district engineer, national bureau of
public roads, who spoke in part as
follows:
&. S. WheeIers Address
LAS a representative of the bureau
of public roads | wish to express my
feelig of partnership, satisfaction and
pride at seeing SO much real work be-
ing done in a state which. l am proud
to say, comprises one-half my district
Highway construction has perhaps
been more adversely affected during
the war period than any other class OF
work. Unit prices for labor and ma
darials boosted the cost of construction
beyond that shown by the oldest au-
thentic records. This came at a time
when the whole United States had just
entered on new era of highway con
| struction If properly encouraged ano
will be of tho greatest importance II
developing the manifold resources Of
thu country. TIE demand for more anC
/ be- highways is to a large degree
caused by the fact that business 1;
growing, the public is travelling ant
touring, and agricultural interests are
clamoring to have the best and in tht
long run the cheapest means of trans
porting products as well as people.
This greatly expanded highwa,
program was brought about as a relief
more or less, of expected conditions
which were to obtain as a result of re
leasing labor from war activities ant
the return of men from military serv
lice. Accordingly, vast sums of none.
were made available by the federal ant
state governments, and activities =
the various states look definite form.
1.-THE army of laborers which it wa
expected would appear did not mater
ialize. and the small amount of labo
available demanded and receive tn
highest wages paid in the chronicles
our country.
way in the years 1917 and 1920 are in
terestiug. Gravel roads have in
| creased in cost from $4545 mile I
$3.50 a mile; concrete from $21,165 :
lunwards of $4,000 and brick road
from $4,000 to $4,000.
@When a pound Of sugar sold Tor
lcents 1T was not a matter worth dis
cussion; when it sold for 80 cents o
higher it was front page story, an
ievery newspaper reader immediatei
J became an earnest student Chea
! staples are taken for granted. but Tn
moment they become dear all eyes ar
} focused upon them-all tongues Joi
the cIamor for explanations.
what is true of sugar Is true 9
highway construction. Because OF TN
great rise in the cost of highways al
most every highway organization ma
been asked to explain why SO muc
money produced such limited mile
. age"
Federal Aid Summary
Mr. Wheeler then gave the followfn
summary of the federal aid funds ap
portioned to Arizona:
|. Under the project agreements sner
are 27S miles of road, the total cost {
construction of which is $5,fOS,zl'
, The federal aid appointments 10
! these roads. which are included in =
separate projects, come to S2,6SI,li'
! IOf these roads, 232 miles are unde
!. construction and 46 miles have bee
completed
The total amount Of the federal al
allotment, Mr.. Wheeler said. Is ~,
, l767.7s4. OF this amount, as shown !
the foregoing paragraph, $2.26I,fs
has been covered by state road pro
jects, leaving $1,13o,61S yet to be al
, llotted to Arizona for highway con
: struction.