Gunnison news-champion., 1922-06-23

district, but Il did not come to q vote
The sessions began Monday fore
noon, by appointment Of the resolu'
tions committee, election Of officer
and transaction of some routine busi.
ness. At noon the members adjourn
ed to the In veta, where = luncheon
was enjoyed and some speeches made
Converting at two o'clock . number
Of talks were on the program. Henry
+. Lake Jr. explained the proposed
short route to Denver via Buena Wis
a and the South Park highway. going
from Gunnison by way Of Taylor
Park or Pitlin. This wns Of interes,
to delegates from Western and South
western Colorado, few of whom had
heard of the route, but had been look
ing for a shorter road up thru Routi
county. II was explained that this
would be 100 miles shorter than any
other possible road from Southwest
crn Colorado to the state capital.
VIM. Weiser was introduced q
Governor weiser," It being known
that he is . prominent candidate or
the Democratic ticket. Mr.. Weisel
asked the audience to forget that and
plunged into m entertaining descrip.
tion Of the formation Of the State
Highway Commission, its duties and
power and the future Of good roads
in Colorado. He gave the interesting
information that Il was by no means
a cinch as yet, that the board would
lose Major Blauvelt as head engineer
and chairman. Not until the NofIRai
road bonds are sold and all details Of
its construction past the danger point
will the governor be likely to accept
the Majors resignation to become en-.
gineer Of the James peak tunnel.
Explaining the seven per cent sys-
TEN, Mr.. Weiser stated that while Il
included those roads on which the
government would spend federal
funds, that this relieved state funds
to the same extent and would boost
other state road construction IL
like proportion. Yet Il was Of i'm.
portance that Colorado be on inter.
state government highways east and
west and north and south. Gunnison
is particularly Interested in the Rain.
bow Route and road thru the South
Park to Denver which are on this sev.
en- per cent system. While the
government money II hedged about
with red tape, they build real roads
and we have q chance as counties "a
get about three dollars for one on our
roads.
Mr.. Weiser, rs Western Slope rep
resentative, thot that we were only
at the beginning Of our acreage de-
velopment in farms and ranches. We
must have good roads TO achieve "a
the full such Possibilities, or the
produce Of the farmer could not b
brought to market. He would b the
last TO advocate obligating ourselves
for additional taxation, but thot We
would find . method Of matching and
securing federal road funds without
this.
Bob Higgins, supt. Of maintenance
Of the State Highway Commission
spoke about his plans and particularly
advocated . heavy license tax fol
big trucks, which were spelling thu
roads, and paid but small share d
their upkeep. This matter came IN
for . good deal Of discussion during
the gathering, II being the general
opinion that big pleasure and freight
trucks should be limited in size and
weight and made to pay high licenses
J. J. Vendemore Of Grand Junction
district division engineer then made
an extended report on the condition
Of road projects in his territory.
Following Il . table showing the
counties Of Division No. 2. The
amounts Of money to be expended up
on federal aid and state projects, the
amounts Of the bond issues for the
seven counties and the total amounts
for each county. 4