The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1922-02-04
GIVING RIO BI4ANCO COUNTY
WORST OF 1T ON ROAD FUNDS

explanatory. and gives pretty clear
insight Into the way this country IT.
being jobbed. by the state road author
tiles In the matter of road work:
Rifle. Colo, January 30. 1922
Governor Oliver II shoup.
Itnver. COlorndn
Dear Governor ShOup;
You will doubtless recall my
cuversatiOn with you recently IN re-
cnrt to securing Of an npprnrint'"h
from the Highway Department fer
the Rife-Mo.s.r road and you: aus-
gestion that take matter up Wit,
Major Blauvelt. Following out yOur
suggestion / called upon Mr. Blnuvelt
and fortunately found Mr. Weiser n
member Of the Advisory Board for this
district In his once also. and to the
best of my ability I pointed out the
need Of this particular piece Of road
and asked them what amount OF mon
ey 1t was proposed to spend upon the
road. I found that Garfield county was
to receive $35.OOOOO which amount
was to Ike used beginning at n point II
mile north of Rifle and running west.
Rio BlancO county was to receive II
remember correctly $4,000 aich was
to he spent In the western end of the
county. The Rifie-Meeker road was
left out entirely and when asked the
cason was informed that considerable
money had been spent on the road the
past couple Of years and II was decid-
cd not tqnepcnd any more money on 1t
at this HQAe. As briefly as possible
wish to place before you few reasons
why this road should not he neglected
nd why liberal appropriation
upkeep.
First-Rio Blnnco county has n to-
tai acreage Of :,O62.72O avrcs OF which
1.272,22S acres are open to homestead
ntry and which IL rapidly being fled
ipOn by new settlers coming into the
country.
SNNl NhouShuhl htV bo"
teing fnrmed with about 2S0OO acres
eine irrigated. In the county during
he past year would estimate that
there was raiscd 2sO.OOO bushels Of
wheat and M equal amount Of other
mall grains the greater part Of which
to Hnd n market must he transported
over the Rife -Meeker road by freight
wagons and trucks. All other farm pro
duets must he marketed over tbIs same
ond which means TINT during tho
time that II In passable It Is lined with
cams and trucks hauling out produce
md taking back merchandise and
farm machinery. All mail to supply
this immense territory must he taken
in over the road and the average
weight OF mail per day going into this
country for tho past year amounted to
considerable more than a ton net say
ing nothing about that which goes out
daily.
Second-The population Of the .coun-
ty Is between three and four thousand
NIL of whom depend upon the rond
more or less for their very existence
as 1t Is their only railroad and affords
tho connecting link with the outside
world.
Third-This road Is on one Of the
principal highways leading from const
TO coast and Is travelled by thousands
of tourists as they pass through our
stntc. It IL also one Of the main high
ways In western Colorado leading to
the northern part Of the state and to
Wyoming.
Fourth-Out Of the forty three miles
Of road thirty miles have been surfnc-
Ell with shnlc leaving thirteen miles
to bc completed. The grade has been
established and only awaits snrfac-
Ing to make 1t one of the hest roads In
the state. while as II now IL with the
immense amount Of heavy traffic which
Of necessity goes over 1t the road at
times becomes almost impossible to
any sort Of vehicle and especially 80
one thnt tx heavily laden.
That part which has been surfaced
has withstood the heavy trafic very
we'll hut should have another coating
Of shnlc placed upon 1t il It is begin
ming to wear through in places. II It
j. not NO treated and 1t IL allowed to
cut through all Of the money that has