The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1921-04-12
HIGHWAY BUILDING
AWAITS LOWER COST

Even though favorable weather
might permit the resumption of high
way construction In New ida, the
board of directors Of the highway de-
partment and State Highway Engi-
neer S. c. Cottrell have decided not
to start on the 1921 program within
the next few weeks unless 1t is found
to be urgently necessary to do SO,
Cottrell stated. says the Gazette.
This attitude was taken by the de-
partment and engineer partly be
cause of the recommendations of the
investigating committee appointed by
the recent legislature to look into
highway building affairs and partly
because of the probability of lower
prices in the future for labor and ma
terial, but mostly because of the
probability that the incoming con-
gress will pass necessary legislation
to fix an increased graduated scale
of federal aid participation in high
way construction costs.
The investigation committee of the
legislature recommended that no new
contracts be allowed for road build
Ing until the costs of materials and
labor in construction should be re-
duced. This reduction. the engineer
believes will take place soon.
1t is currently believed that con-
gress will pass a measure which will
mean much to Nevada in the way OF
highway construction, the highway
engineer believes. A measure intro
duced in the last session would have
given this state $11.65 for each 81 OF
state and county money expended and
was based on the relative amount of
government owned land In the state.
The bill passed the house by an ov-
erwhelming vote and received ma
ojriety vote in the senate, but failea
to get the requisite vote of two-thirds,
which the rules of the senate and the
peculiarities of the bill required. 1t
will be redrafted and presented i'm
mediately upon the converting OF the
next session and there Is every indi-
cation that 1t will pass. cottrell be-
lieves.
During the next few weeks the de-
partment will frame more definite
ha oxo afa aI hA
road program will go forward. Bids
on one contract for a small amount
OF work on the Reno-Carson road are
now being advertised for and this
stretch OF highway will be included
In the active work to be done during
the summer. Plans have already
been drawn for work upon the Reno
Purdy road. included by the legisla-
ture In the list of routes designated
as STAKE highways. Work on the
three other highway routes incorpo-
rated by the legislature in the high
way law. the Ely-Las Vegas, Leete-
fle-Carson and Winnemucca west
roads, will probably not be started
this year, cottrell stated
The highway engineer will leave
r Washington. d. c., within few
laws to confer with federal authori-
on the disposition Of war equip
ment. which has been given hitherto
to the various state highway depart
ments. and on the securing of funds
FOR road building. Agreements for
the expenditure of 100000 of bureau
public roads money must be maze
efore July / of this year If the state
secure the benefit of those funds
and not less than an additional w.
10000 must be contracted for be-
fore July / of next year.
Mr.. Cottrell will stop at Ogden ana
Calf Lake on his trip eastward 10
infer with the federal district engi-
neer at the former place and the
governor of Utah regarding highway
matters.