The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-01-16
MUCH DlSCU SSI0\ REGARDING
ROAD TO THE OIL. FIELDS
lContinued From Page onel

Continued From Page Onel
to be worse than any other stretch
Of road in the county.
1 This suggestion was offered by AIR.
Ramsey because finances will NOT per-
init the construction of an asphalt
or macadamized road of greater length
than six miles. Mr.. Ramsey stated
that with the Bayou piece of road inn
proved, it would be possible to travel
over the entire road at all times, as
the balance of the road is still in fair
condition, and when finances permit
the rest of the road could be improv-
cd with materials of similar construc-
/ ton.
Mr.. Ramsey stated that it was the
purpose OF the citizens of Ardmore
/ TO be fair in every respect to the
! citizens of the western part of the
county, ana that the idea of having u
road of asphalt or concrete construc-
/ tion was To have one of pcrmanoncy
which would be of benefit TO all cti-
Zens Of the county. lie stated that
/ it would be folly to surrender the Of
fered government appropriation Of
/ $4,000 to match the county funds
available for the construction of the
road, and squander the balance of
/ the money which the county now hts
on hand on gravel road. ct WI
/ be remembered that the federal au-
tholities have informed the county au-
! thorities that they do not favor gravel
road construction).
I'VE should follow the judgment of
men who know how to build roads,
and the government engineers know
how" Mr.. Ramsey said. For the
past 80 years the engineers of the
highway department of the govern
ment has studied road conditions and
il they. state that gravel is not ad-
visable for the local road, then we
should follow their advice and build
Of some other material
! Speaking of the, high cost of as
phalt and concrete road construction
at the present time, Mr.. Ramsey stat
ed that il was due chiefly to the
high freight rates, and that there is
not much possibility Of any rcduc-
tion in the cost of the construction of
such roads for some time to come.
1T is better to have six miles Of
good permanent road said Mr.. Ram
soy, than maheshift gravel road
which cannot be Travelled at all at
this time of the year"
Frank McPhail, of this city. but
| formerly resident of Writ, spoke OF
the time when the road project was
first brought up, at which time the
subject of federal aid was also first
mentioned, that all were in favor Of
concrete read. He remarked that
IL would be the height Of foolishness
to make an agreement with the state
and federal authorities ana then back
out. However. IL was Mr. McPhal
who. OF the close Of the meeting in
troduccd the motion favoring a gravel
road and asking for the appointment
Of the committee 10 cooperate WIN
the commissioners to gain federal aid
for gravel road.
Russell Brown former county at
I torncy. corroborated the statements OF
! Mr.. Ramsey, emphasizing the fact
that the money which the commits
sioners have On hand To eXpen1 on
he road, was originally obtained with
, the provision that it be- used with
federal aid appropriation. He stated
| that in the past great deal OF the
county funds had been spent on roads
I by people supervising the work who
know ndhng about roads, including
/ himself and others. He asked If It
was hot the intention Of all concerned
10 have the money spent iniellisently'
referring to the fact Jhat uniber gov
crnment and STATE supervision the
construction of the road would be car
/ r.cd on in the most efficient manner.
He expressed his opinion as being in
/ favor of the concrete or other form
| o. hard-surface road, calling attention
/ to the rlct thai the traffic on the
proposed highway would be the heav-
ios In the southwest. with the pos
sibc exception of one other road.
After the opinions of those favoring
/ Tho hlrd-surfacc road had been heard,
representatives from the western part
Of the county all Of whom were for
roal o. gravel construction, cX-
pressed their views.
Il. \. Baird. attorney, OF Healdton,
stated hat he represented the people
\ of that town. He expressed their
views as being unanimously in favor
/ OF a gravel road which would extend
| from i.,nc Grove 10 Hcaldton. and as
opposed to any sX-mIlc stretch Of
road az Hewitt or anywhere else. lie
| cNplincd the absolute necessity OF
constructing the highway without fur
thcr delay, IN tha, the present thor
/ oughfarc is now So torn mp that Il IS
nearly lmplsabc lie referred 20
/ tho citizens Of the oil fields as the
people "wh1 are paying thrce-flfths
OF the ad valorcm tax OF Carer coun-
| ty. and 4rc therefore entitled 10 just
consideration in deciding the form Of
construction Of N" road and whore
/ IL shI go" Mr. Baird mentioned
many Illus rl,ions of gravel roads
which had been very good as highways
and which In many Instances SUR
plsscd and cutliyed concrete and other
forms OF roads. lie mentioned the
fact thai 10 is impossible to repair the
I present road because OF tho soft for
miiion which exists IN many paris
of b.. and as result shr continuous
waves which arc apparent throughout
tho roadhcd have never been able 10
he repaired SHOULD concrete or 0s-
lholt hc laid ovcr such formation as
this. hc pointed out. 4. would sink
In some places and break and cause
IAN kinds or trouble and defective road
which could not he repaired. Gravel.