Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-02-02
THEODORE GARY
OUTLINES HIS
ROAD PROGRAM

Aneooore Gary, chairman of the Mis-
souri, State Highway Commission, has
issued the following statement re-
lative to his program of road con-
struction for Missouri, SO that the
people of the State may have a
clearer understanding of the policy
he will pursue in carrying out his
work,
1t has come to my attention that
public statements made by me since
my appointment as Chairman of the
State Highway Commission have
been misquoted and misunderstood by
various citizens in the State. There
fore l think it well to issue a direct
statement to the people Of Missouri,
outlining the main points of the mat
tiers covered in my former public
statements.
l wish it distinctly understood that
do not advocate any particular type
of road surface to be used throughout
the state highway system. Neither
have ! taken any definite stand
against any particular type of sur
facing that has been proposed for
any part of this system. Any refer
euce that / have made to types of sur
facing was more for the purpose of
ringing out or illustrating other
points, rather than defining a fixed
conclusion or policy.
The idea that / have attempted to
convey Is that road building is a pro-
cess and that, while we may not be
able with the funds now avaiiale or
that will be available for a number of
years to come, to build throughout
the entire system of state highways
the most durable type of road sur
face that will require the minimum
amount of maintenance expense, we
will attempt to build in such a way
that whatever surface is placed at
this time will have the maximum
value during the process of develop
ing into the so-called higher types of
road s~urfacing that will come later.
This will ultimately lead to the very
highest type of construction that is
warranted by the needs of the traf-
fc to be taken care of.
1t is certain that we cannot pur-
chase at this time with the funds that
are now in sight the type of ~surfacing
for every mile of road included in the
state highway system, that is ade-
quate to take care Of the future, or
even the present traffic at the min
imum maintenance cost. Therefore,
l am proposing at this time that we
should make whatever expenditures
that are necessary first for securing
the right-of-way for proper topo-
graphical locations, giving due con-
sideration, of course, to the existing
improvements and the needs of the
inhabitants living along these high
ways. Second, the construction of
the very best grade possible, and
third, the erection of the most dur
able types Of drainage structures.
These three steps can be considered
the foundation work, and therefore
should receive our most careful con-
sideration at this time.
1t is then proposed to use whatever
materials are available and to invest
whatever amount of money is avail
able in the construction of a type of
road on each section of this system
that will for the present r the
traffic needs and which we will be
able to maintain with the funds that
can be provided for this purpose. In
some instances we will decide that
properly bound gravel roads will
meet the requirements outlined by
this policy, while on some of u main
highways, it will be found that it is
necessary to build some Of the So
called higher types of hard surfaced
pavements in the beginning.
1t can be seen from these state
ments that / am not advocating al
system Of gravel roads for the state
of Missouri, nor am I advocating a
system of the most expensive higher
type pavements. I am simply advo-
the practical b~usiness-like
manner Of handling problems Of this
kind, taking into consideration our
needs in each particular instance, to-
gether with the funds that are at our
disposal both for construction and
maintenance.