Gunnison news-champion., 1924-06-27

chairman Of the advisory board, made
q rafting talk in which he assur-
ed the public that Gunnison coun-
ty taxpayers paid but n small share
of these great building projects, which
are now almost entirely financed by
the government and state working to-
gether. Less than so cents on each
100000 valuation was his estimate
of the cost 10 our taxpayers Of tins
bridge. He spoke of the fine road on
Monarch pass, across Blue Mesa and
the Improvements coming near Gun
nison which will make Of the Rainbow
Route one uniform high-class highway
from Salida to Grand Junction.
Mr.. Dubois, designer of the bridge.
WAS called up, and mentioned the fact
that while all these projects are links
in a great system, the different sec
tions Of roads can be built up piece
meal, but bridges must be built right,
since they are erected for all time.
George Toupain, superintendent of
maintenance, made few brief re-
marks, coinplimenting the road oftiei-
ais in their cooperation, not TO be bet
tered anywhere in Colorado.
J. J. VanDemoer, district engineer,
then gave the specifications of the
bridge, part of which are printed at
the end Of this article.
A splendid address was given by
Carl Milliken, secretary of state Of
Colorado, who congratulated both
I Eastern and Western Colorado on such
a magnificent highway improvement.
He had Just examined the structure
carefully and was impressed by the
obstacles overcome. Modern high
| ways are the arteries of commerce,
thru which fiow the streams of pleas
ure seekers and also grain and fruit
| and live stock and other crops Of the
ranchmen and farmers. He hoped the
necessity for more such improvements
would be realized by the legislators
and the taxpayers, who would find
good roads among their best invest
ments. Mr.. Milliken has always been
!, friend Of Gunnison, our schools ant
our road enterprises, and received
hearty greeting.
/ DIR. George Sullivan, as representa-
tive of the board Of county commits
sioners, was called upon and mnds
many humorous references which kept
the crowd laughing. He was especial
ly proud Of the work Of the board II
securing the Rainbow Route to b
designated as a primary inter-stat,
highway where it could then command
the attention and the funds from tn,
outside to make it the great road WI
see now building. He ended with ,
boost for the Western State Colleg'
and its band, which furnished musi
without charge for the celebration.
Commissioper Joe Hartman o
Montrose made good talk, one o
his principal points being the fact tina
the automobiles are really paying 10
all the roads we get. From the excis'
tax on autos levied by the government
in 1917, the five per cent which ever.
car pays before it reaches the usel
the government has collected $685., 600,
600. Yet the federal road fund, o
which this bridge is part, and whicl
many people are complaining about q
a tax upon the public, has only give
back to the states $24S, 900 900. i
other words we have only gotten bacl
half as much rs the government aut
tax amounted to. Mr.. Hartman con
graduated US that county and stat
lines are disappearing. He thanked th
Gunnison officials and citizens for .
curing the funds to build this grea
bridge, which people Of Nontrose IN
Delta would, he said, use ten times .
mnch as will those Of Gunnison. sine