Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-10-25
RUNYON FAVORS
C0NCRETEb BASE
On Every Main Highway in
State Top Surface Up to
Conditions

.aCCidi CO Ahat -
est upon every main highway IN
The state having a cement concrete
or reinforced concrete base, leaving
the question of whether or not there
shall be a bituminous top surfacing
ito the engineers, dependent on the
individual geographical conditions
surrounding each highway. He also
declares the present State Highway
Commission, having proven its I'M
fitness for that office, should be re-
moved and replaced by a commits
sion of three men of the highest
ability and recognized character.
Another point the Republican brings
out is "the utmost folly of construct
ing our main highways by merely
resurfacing an old macadam base"
The complete road statement of
Senator Runyon follows:
The Republican party is pledged
to the early and economic compile
ton Of the state highway system
with modern hard surface roads
and the improvement of rural roads
as tributaries thereto. Whatever
may be the decision of the people
r. VI III 6ldlC Oh NAS aoSotAch % ShS
10000 900 bond issue for roads
which Is to be submitted at the No
vember election, there can be no
question but hat all appreciate the
high importance of good foads &C
the Industrial agricultural and So
tcial life of the state. There can
likewise be no question but that at
best road building is an expensive
business. The problem is therefore
one of obtaining the best roads
from an engineering standpoint at
the least possible cost to the state.
In other words, it is u duty to see
that the citizens get one Hundred
cents of return on every dollar in
vested in roads.
Until the past two or three years
the counties have been the storm
center of complaint in ROAD build
King, on two grounds. Frs, because
\ by the county home rule act of
N1918 they were precluded ON OBJ
tanning bids on more than n kind
of pavement This right has been
enjoyed for a considerable number
of years by municipalities. If the
municipalities have the right to
obtain bids on several kinds of
pavements. 1 can see no eason why
the counties should not have the
same right. Accordingly, the Re-
publican platform of this year spe-
officially pledges our party to an
amendment of the state and county
acts to permit the state and coun-
ties to receive bids on several types
of pavement in the same manner os
municipalities do under the munic-
ipal home rule act. On this import
ant topic, as on so many others,
the Democrats stand mute.
Et II o+Ha, na,ttln =. oaIlcn nf nnm-
plant with the counties is in ref
erence to the county reimburse
ment act. Under this scheme, sew
eral of the counties babe been build
ing roads for the state highway de-
partment, under an agreement with
the state highway department h a
the expenditure of the Will
be reimbursed to the counties by tie
state in future years. In other
words, the state highway depart
ment has pledged to the counties
its income in advance tor the next
four or five years. If the bond is
size is accepted by vote of the peo-
pie in November, it carries with II
a repeater of the county reimburse
ment act. If the bond issue is not
adopted by the people, L strongly
favor the immediate repeal OF the
act. Several of our counties have
declined to build roads under the
county reimbursement act, ecaus
of their belief that the act is uncon-
stitutional. Whether this be SO or
not, the scheme of county reiln-
bursements should be definitely
adjourns.
'I do not believe that legislation
will cure all ills in road building,
any more than it will in any other
branch Of governmental activities
Much depends on the caliber of the
men administering the law. The
present commission, if one may he
lieve the evidence everywhere being
presented in the public press, has
demonstrated it's unitness for OIL
fee, If the facts are as presented.
and should be speedily II
elected, 1 will urge the appointment
of men of the highest ability and
recognize character, quaiihed &c
give their best efforts to this most
important business of the state
believe the commission should con-
sist of not more than three men
The present commission is far too
large, and in addition to its nuIner-
Gus other failings, there has been
a marked tendency for some II the
commissioners to regard themselves
merely REPRESENTATIVES, VI 49, -"
localities, and not of the state: Tse
state highway commission should
view the state highway system
purely as a state highway PROPOSE
ton and not as any scheme Tor
s~natching special benefits from the
state treasury.
L believe the commission is entlt-
led to the best available engineering
advice as to how the roads shoulo
be constructed. While I cannot quail
ify as an engineer, 1 can state from
! numerous conferences with several
sof the best engineers of the state
that / regard it as the utmost folly
to construct our main highways by
merely resurfacing an old macadau1
or telford base. Such a procedure
NAV be sufficient for roads which
are not subject to heavy traffic, but
for the main highways of the state
there can be no question but that the
best base so far devised is one made
of cement concrete or reinforced CON
crete. If elected governor, l will
insist that until competent n rec
ognized engineers present a better
solution of the problem, every main
highway of the state shall be con-
structed with a cemen concrete or
reinforced concrete base. leaving the
question of whether or not there
shall be a bituminous surface 10 n
engineers, dependent on the indlvid
ual geographic conditions
ing each highway. | will also lnsis'
that full attention be paid to the
matter of drainage. wlthou Wnien