Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1922-11-19
MUCH INTEREST
IN HlDALCO CO.
HIGHWAY PLANS
Cameron County Highway
Boosters Desire Extension
Of Concrete System Thru
Adjoining County


crete similar to the Cameron county
highway? IS the question now upper
most in the minds of many Cameron
county good roads enthusiasts. who are
firmly convinced that the Cameron
county highway, or rather such por-
tions of il as have already been com
pleted. has proved the desirability of
concrete construction.
Hidaigo county will open bids Tues
day for the construction Of a portion OF
that county's highway program, and
while no announcement has been made
as to the material to be used in con
struction, Cameron county is anxiouslv
awaiting reports on the action to be
taken by the Hidalgo county commits
sioners.
When the Cameron county highway
is completed to the Hidalgo county
line IL will be the longest stretch of
concrete highway in the state. The city
of San Bcnito recently decided to pave
tts streets with concrete. thereby Civ
ing Cameron county IS miles Of con
crete highway. extending from she city
limits of Brownsville to the Hidalgo
county line. The San Benito city COM
mission decided upon concrete after
making an exhaustive examination of
construction and maintenance costs.
State and federal engineers who have
Inspected the completed sections of the
Cameron county highway state that
with the exception of small section
Cameron county has one Of the best
highways in the state. The work in the
vicinity of San Benito brought special
commendation. and the plans for the
completion of the highway received
their full approval.
Gravel Roads a Failure.
The first results of the good roads
movement in Texas number of years
age was the construction of numerous
gravelcd roads. but almost without ex-
ception these highways have proved
poor investment. The cost of upkecp in
many instances proved greater than the
county could stand. and in other coun-
ties where little maintenance was at
tempted. the roads have rapidly deterio-
rated The graveled roads lasted two or
three years. depending to great ex-
tent on the weather. the gravel and the
traffic. and the most Of them began TO
where graveled roads were construu-
ted ten or fifteen years ago they now
are being replaced by concrete or as
phalt. permanent highways taking the
place Of the gravel.
Recent tests made by the state OF
Illinois. which has program of high
way construction approxmating 5000
miles, have proved the value Of CON
crete. notwithstanding the range of
temperature which was originally con
sidcred the principal drawback to con
crete construction in the north. The
tests. conducted over n period Of year
on all STYLES Of highway construction.
proved that concrete or asphalt stands
hard usage at lower maintenance cost
than other materials. As "A result of
these tests a large mileage Of concrete
will be constructed in that state with
in the next two years.
All the Valley Interested.
II believe every resident Of Cameron
county is thoroughly satisfied with the
highway under construction" was the
statement made yesterday by local
good roads enthusiast who has taken a
prominent part in promoting the inn
proved highway program in Cameron
county. Every resident Of the Valley
is Interested in this Valley highway
and il j. the sincere desire Of every
one that i; he as near uniform as pos
sitle. OF course. Cameron county good
reads promoters would not presume to
in any way Interfere in matters which
are distinctly Hidalgo county affairs.
hut there are few people in the Valley
who do not consider the improved high.
way Valley highway. a highway for
every section of the Valley.
"Countv lines should not figure in
the construction Of such highway
What every person in the Valley want.
is highway that will give the best of
service at the minimum cost Of main
tcnance-a highway that will serve to
advertise the Valley: that will bring I'm
the tourists who are now flocking 10
California and Florida. and I believe
the majority would he most heartily in
favor of constructing this highway as
nearly uniform as possible in all the
Valley counties.
with uniform construction. and uni
form beautification. "a proposed by the
Valley Federation of Women's Clubs il
WILL be highway that will prove one
of the best investments the Valley
ever made"