The border vidette., 1931-02-21
NSTRUCTiON PROJECTS IN
STATE WILL EXCEED $40
100000 IN 1891

Comparing favorably with the
records of the last several years,
more than $40, 600, 900 will be ex
pended in large new construc.
ton and development projects
in the state 10 1881, according
to figures assembled by the Ari
zona Industrial Congress.
Highway construction and ion
provements for which state and
federal funds are available alone
represent some 100000, while
it is expected that new construc
ton work of railroads, utility
companies and irrigation pro
jects will amount to Sc, 900, 900
Another S., 900. 900 is accounted
for by municipal works and large
building projects already under
way or soon to be begun. exclu
sive of other building construc
ton which can not be forecast
SO definitely.
The record highway program
in sight for this year was assur
ed by recent action of the legis
lature in advancing funds to
meet additional federal aid made
available by congress as al EN-
ergency measure, and in raising
the state gasoline tax one cent.
With this additional budget,
State Highway Department esti
mates indicate that approximate
~ -. 100000 will be put into
state highway construction and
Improvement during the year.
Beides the large state high
way and federal aid expendiEu
res, it is expected that approx
mately $500. 900 will be expend.
ed in highway construction in
the state Ly the National Park
Service. $500, 900 from the fed
eral Forest highway fund, !. and
$4OO, 600 from the forest develop
ment fund, with no report as
yet regarding work to be done
on Indian reservations.
Increased federal and state
funds were made available, for
highway construction this year
largely as q measure to stimu
late employment. To make
them of maximum benefit to Ari
zona, the U. S. Bureau of Public
Roads, administering federal aid
funds, mas agreed that the em
ployment OF Arizona residents
may be specified in contracts by
the State Highway Department.
This will materially strengthen
the departments Employ Ari
zona Labor" policy.
Considering the enormous am
ount of new construction carried
out by reclamation projects, rail
roads, mining companies and util
itv companies in recent years
aggregatinR around 100000,
600 from 1924 to 1929-it is only
natural that these forms of deve
lopm ,nt should be less active
this year, but the Industrial
congress compilation shows that
they will continue considerable
activity during 1881. The South
ern Pacific railroad, for instance
reports that its construction bud
get in the state is expected to be
about the same as tor 1880, or
81, 800. 900. while the Santa Fe
also reports a construction bud
get of $1,000, 900 in the state
this year.
Despite the unusual number
of reclamation projects com.
pleted in the last few years.
much work also will be done by
irrigation districts. Completion
of the lateral system of the San
Carlos project in the Florence
Casa Grsnde Valley will entail
expenditure of $500, 1000. while
the Randolph Irrigation district
in the same valley has voted a
bond issue of $500, 900 for con
struction of wells. pumping
plants and canals. The Roose.
velt Irrigation district west of
the Salt River Valley has voted
$500. 900 in. bonds to line canals
and otherwise improve its water
distribution system, and work
is under way on several smaller
districts. After completing its
new 81. 100000 steam plant last
spring, the Central Arizona
Light and Power company leads
the utility field this year with
a 5000, 900 program OF extension
and improvement of facilities,
chiefly on the north side of the
! Salt River Valley. The Arizo