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Show ' Record of the Republican Road Building V By Theodore L. Holman. IN the discussion of state issues, tlie Republl- can stump speakers and editors can do no bet- B ' ter than to confine themselves to the record of H Republican rule in Utah. It matters little what B I ho opposition promises to the people campaign fl promises are as cheap as they are common; .but M it is important that from now until election day B 'no opportunity be overlooked to contrast Demo- H cratic promises with Republican performances. Hj The people of Utah are sensible and sound in 1 their ideas of public policy, and no better ap- H peal can possibly be made to them than to tell K the true story of (Republican achievements. And IB if, perhaps, our Republican candidates and advo- EB cates feel that they must promise the people H something, then they should confine their prom- H isos to a continuation of the constructive poli- H cies which have done so much for the uplift of H the people and the upbuilding of the state. H Chief amongst the constructive policies in- H stituted by the Republican party in the state is H that of permanent road construction work. Bight H years ago the public roads were in a deplorable H condition. Nothing substantial had been done H to remedy the situation. It was the custom at H each session of the legislature to make small B 'special appropriations to the several counties B for road building purposes, but without due re- B gard for permanent construction. In 1909 a Re- B publican administration sensed the urgent need B for state aid in this direction, and inaugurated B permanent road construction work on a suDStan- B tial scale. B By act of a Republican legislature a state B road commission was created; a standard sys- B tern of permanent road building was established, B and provisions were made for the designation of B a state road system that would eventually serve B all localities. A heavy appropriation was made B to start this work, and a permanent annual ap- B propriation fixed by law. This appropriation has B been substantially increased at subsequent ses- B sions of the legislature Moreover, in addition M to the expenditure of the state funds specified, It m was provided by law that the several counties H should bear an equitable portion of the cost of fl t the proposed work, both by direct appropriation M from the county funds and by a special tax levy M (not to exceed 5 mills), for permanent road im- H 'provements. The use of convict labor on the pub- 1 ' lie roads was also authorized. j H The undertaking was popular from the start. H The citizens welcomed the movement, the coun- H ties gave cordial co-operation, and the road com- H mission diligently pursued its object. Every of- H fort was concentrated in this great constructive H work with tho result that the state road system H now reaches out to all corners of the state. Ap- H ' proximately 2,900 miles of public highway have H ' already been designated and made a part of the B state system. Under thex direction of the state B ' officers some 1,800 miles of road have been grad- B ' ed and put in splendid shape for ordinary usage. B t Over GOO miles have been shaped and surfaced B and come under tho classification of permanent B ' construction. By the close of the current year, B t I with the work now under way, tho state system B f ' wul include 35 miles of concrete road and 20 B I miles of macadam. To date, the records or the B commission show that upwards of 4,800 culverts B have been laid and some 400 bridges erected. B ) Included in the latter are 40 steel and 81 concrete B bridges, all of modern and substantial design. B Two largo bridges have been built across the I Green river, and one each across the Grand, Sevier, San Juan and Price rivers, respectively, all at a cost of upwards of $100,000. In connection with the state road system, the Midland Trail has been established and im- t proved and the Pioneer Route perpetuated. All told, by the close of 1916, the state will have appropriated and expended upwards of $1,100,000 of its own funds for the permanent construction of highways and bridges. Of this amount, the sum of $200,000 was raised by a bond issue and distributed equally amongst twenty-six of the counties (Salt Lake county excepted), and the balance was set apart from the general funds of the state. Add to this amount the funds derived from tho several counties and the grand total appropriated will approximate $3,250,000. According Accord-ing to the records of the state road commission, the close of the current year will see the work listed above all completed and paid for, and there will be upwards of $400,000 available of the total to-tal funds set forth above for further work next year. Utah is still in her infancy and her finances are limited. In view of this, the permanent road construction work already accomplished assumes gigantic proportions. The expenditure of two and three quarter million dollars on the roads is a monument to the enterprise and efficiency of tho Republican party. This is especially significant signifi-cant because every dollar was used to the best advantage, and every effort made to assist the smaller counties and the outlying sections. The Republican party deserves and should ibe given full credit for inaugurating and pushing to partial par-tial completion this great public project. It needs nb better campaign argument. |