Imperial Valley press., 1922-02-06
Varied Activities OF State
Highway Commission
Floods Bring New Problems-Commission Wrestles With
Cement Trust-Effort for an Equitable Dis
tribution of Road Building Burdens

ever possible the California Highway
Commission uses local sources for
materials but these do not always
exist.
The only element entering into
highway construction that has ap-
preached normal is the cost of labor.
Adequate Motor Vehicle Fees A Ma
tiOnal i'robiem
In view OF the general sentiment
arising in California demanding that
the users of highways, who are the
direct benefIciarIeS OF the construc-
ton of improved county and state
systems, bear larger and more
equitab bic share of the cost of con-
suuctlon and maintaining such high
ways, it is interesting to note that
the problem Is not peculiar to Can
fornIa, except that III this state the
situation as regards excessive loads
and low fees is more aggravated than
IN almost any other good roads state.
evidence of the national character Of
the problem is contained in the fol
lowing resolution adopted at the an
nual meeting of the state highway Of
iicials held December s, at Omaha,
Nebraska:
WHEREAS, By far the greater
portion of the cost of modern high
way construction and maintenance is
due TO the necessity Of adequate pro-
vldlng for the movement OF persons
and goods by motor vehicles, and
WHEREAS, The taxes imposed up
On real and personal property have.
n many states, reached almost the
present economic conditions, and
WHEREAS, The principal users
Of our highways, the operators of
motor vehicles, can be justly charged
an adequate amount for benefits de-
rived and savings secured from and
by cur program of highway construt-
ton and maintenance, and
WHEREAS, in most of our states
the owners of motor vehicles are
paying an insufficient portion of the
cost Of the states highway program,
as compared to the portion of the
cost raised by taxation on general
property, despite the fact that the
individual owner is always willing to
pay his lar snare OI the cost.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RE-
SOLVED, By the American Associ-
alton of State Highway Officials
that we urge upon all states the
fairness and the necessity of collect
ing an adequate portion of the cost
Of highway programs from the users
IF motor vehicles. This fair share is
not only the cost of maintenance of
modern highways, but includes also
fair proportion of the cost Of new
construction, because much Of this
latter cost is due to the necessity of
adequately providing for motor traf-
fic
BE 1T FURTHER RESOLVED,
That we recommend appeals to the
individual motorist for his support
Of this policy of providing for fair
distribution of the cost of highway
Improvement, because we believe
that when he is made to realize that
only IN this way can a continuance of
the required highway program be
guaranteed to him, he will, being
fair minded American citizen, readi-
ly respond to such appeals"
Ridge Route Opened in Record Time
Within three days after the most
severe storm in many years, the Cal
ifornia highway commission maintcn.
ance department dug passage
through thirty miles of snow on the
Ridge route between Bakersfield and
Los Angeles, rescuing scores OF ma
rooned automobile parties which had
taken refuge at the different resorts
ara stations along the route.
To accomplish this result the com
mission used over 100 men with
trucks working from each end of the
snow bound section, and from the
maintenance station at Liebra on the
Ridge. The crews worked night and
DAY, and at noon February j opened
one way passage throughout. The
snow on the levels was from two to
three feet deep, and in the cuts and
dfl1ts from four to eight feet. After
opening one way passage to LET tho
staiied cars out, the crews turned
thelr attention to making turn outs.
and the entire highway was opened
70 general traffic under controls
thursday afternoon, February >
Cement Bids All Alike
Informal bids were received from,
the northern cement companies bv
tne California Highway Commission
last week. On 1000 barrels for de-
livery at Suisun-F Fairfield all com.
NOtH-