Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-06-26
FEDERAL AID Is
EXTENDED EVERY
COUNTY IN n. NJ.
States Total Le-. of
Public Roads sEs'l Now
Stretched to t,$S /Aazingy
Total Of 47,sSs, Miles.
nm GurnR 5 2 Iru

Santa Fe, juno s fEvery coun-
ty in the state Anticipated IN
the state hi : ! commission
road building ram. in which
the federal go, /ment is bearing
the major part of the cost. The
federal aid roads which have been
completed cost more than $1,000
coo, while those under constructions
and for which contracts have been
let, bring the total of federal aid
projects up to $6,295,062. The fed
eral government already has paid
into the state treasury of New
Mexico $2,14S,201.92, which has
been applied on the cost of the
program. Under the present fed
eral aid road act, the federal gov
eminent will pay 3S.S per cent OF
the total cost of all projects cou-
tracted for since June so, 1921, ans
which are subsequently to be con-
tracted for.
New Mexico's road problem is
far from easy or simple, both as
regards finances and difficulties OF
construction and maintenance. The
states total length of public roads
has now stretched to the amaziJ5
sum Of 7,000-nearly IA times as
great as the distance from Boston
to Los Angeles. Far from easy for
q state which last year showed
total property valuation OF $780,
100000 However, if products are
to be carried to market, and If the
state is to preserve its growing
reputation as one of the foremos.
outing and recreation places of the
world, and continue to attract an
nually hundreds Of thousands of
automobile tourists, roads must be
built and maintained, whatever the
difficulties of mountain or plain.
Colfax Dona Ana and Gran.
counties each will have more than
S500,000 in federal aid roads when
the present contracts are complet-
ed. Bernalillo follows closely with
$4S4,722, while San Miguel Will
have $453,442. All of the federal
aid projects in Bernalillo and Dona
Ana counties are concrete boule-
wards, while a part of one Of the
roads in Grant county is OF con-
crete.
When the boulevards now build
ing are completed, Dona Ana coun-
tv will have a stretch reaching from
Las Cruces to Ell Paso, a distance
of AZ miles, thence reaching soutn
into the lower valley for a total 81
.S7 miles. Bernalillo county now
has a boulevard extending north
from Albuquerque TO the Berna-
|lillo-Sandoval county line, dls
'tance Of 9.56 miles. There is bull1-
Ing south from Albuquerque to ~
iaTito. on the west side of the RIO
Grande, $50 miles. There is un.
der consideration a third stretch OF
six miles. running from Pajarito TO
Isleta. When this third project .
completed, Bernalillo Will nave ah
uubroken boulevard across the
county from north to south. Pre-
liminary steps have been taken
looking to the construction OF th,'
fourth boulevard, to extend from
Albuquerque east toward the san
dia mountains.
other counties, greater in area
and less wealthy, have had 10
"make their money go further'
and have constructed roads OF less
expensive types. There is append
cd a table that shows the mile
age and cost of roads in each couh-
ty. For instance, it will be noted
that Union county has built ll0
miles at cost of only Sl6S,42o'
which is only a little moro than
half of the boulevard running
north from Albuquerque. And de
Raca has built nine miles for
$Ss.675.
The state highway commission
apportions the road fund to each
county in proportion to its assessed
valuation and tax collections. The
invariable policy is to consult the
board of county commissioners
upon each road that is proposed.
Every county then has the privilege
Of designating the roads which are
most needed and will serve the
greatest number.
The following is the standing of
federal aid roads by counties:
Bernalillo, II, $4S4,722; Chaves,
so, $335,7S4 Colfax, 96, $526,S4S;
Curry. 2S, s193,1S1; De Baca, nine
s3S,675; Dona Ana, 23, $533,445;
Eddy. SO. $165,0S5; Grant, "a,
s569,S97. Guadalupe. is, $146,2SS:
Lea, SO, $14S,299; Lincoln, 16.
$4,000; Luna, "A, s230.160; Nc
Kinley, % S16S,575; Mora, 2S,
sS02,964; Otero, 2S, $132,607;
Quay, 22, s270,575; Rio Arriba, 13,
s169,291; Roosevelt, II, s106,902;
Sandoval six, $43,S4S San Juan,
is. ss2,54S; San Miguel 63, $453,-
442; Santa Fe, %, $170,396; Sierra,
10. s56,9OS; socorro, 80. $1SS,4s2;
Taos, 10. s63,436; Torrance, 80,
$71, 800: Union, 10, $16S,423; Va
lencia, 56. $323,024.