Why We Should Have Hard Surfaced Roads

ARIZONA is now receiving nationwide publicity among homeseekers, as offering the tourist one of the most scenic all year round playgrounds in America. Necessarily, the first major factor that concerns the traveling public is the condition of roads and the number of miles of hard surfaced roads we have. Graveled or dirt roads are economical up to a certain percentage of traffic; beyond this maintenance becomes prohibitive on account of cost and failure to hold the surface. There are sections of our State highway system that have reached this stage of development.In computing the operating costs of vehicles per mile it is generally estimated that the cost of passenger cars is 10 cents per mile on hard surfaced roads, and trucks 36 cents per mile; on graveled roads 11½ cents per mile for passenger cars, and 41 cents per mile for trucks. In addition to the saving in operating motor vehicles upon hard surfaced roads, due consideration should be given the saving of time which is a large factor in present day activities and likewise, the elimination of dust and reduction of accidents.

Assuming that Arizona has 80,000 passenger cars, which is a low estimate, and that each car will average 4,000 miles per annum, making a total of 320,000,000 car miles, and estimating that the travel will be 75 per cent over State roads, we get 240,000,000 car miles of travel per annum.Taking the basis of reduction in cost of operation between a graveled road and a hard surfaced road at 1½ cents By M. C. HANKINS, Secretary Arizona State Highway Commission per mile, the passenger car owners will save $3,600,000 per annum; and further assuming that Arizona has 10,000 trucks, which is a minimum estimate, and that each truck will average 2,500 car miles per annum, making a total of 25,000,000 car miles of travel, of which 75 per cent will be over State roads, we get 18,750,000 car miles.

The basis of saving on the operation of trucks as between gravel surfaced and hard surfaced roads is estimated at 5 cents per mile, which will give an annual saving of $837,500 to truck owners. The grand total of savings on all motor vehicles will amount to $4,437,000.

In addition to the saving to car owners, we must take into consideration the difference in cost of maintenance and resurfacing of graveled roads over the upkeep of hard surfaced roads. The annual maintenance cost of our heaviest traveled sections will run as high as $1,000 a mile per annum; the average cost of resurfacing amounts to approximately $5,000 per mile, which naturally depends on local conditions for surfacing materials and distance of haul. The average life of surfacing material under heavy traffic is approximately four years, or a general average cost on maintenance and reconstruction of approximately $2,500 per mile per annum.

It is not the writer's intention, in estimating the saving to car owners traveling over the State highway system, to advocate hard surfaced roads for the entire system. The illustration is used for an example of the difference in cost of operation and to show that if the entire State system of 2,200 miles was paved what the saving to car owners would be. The difference in cost and operation would more than take care of the interest on the bonds; the difference of upkeep as between gravel and hard surfaced roads would give you approximately $5,000,000 per annum for redemption of bonds.

Our State Engineer, Mr. W. W. Lane, in working out his plan in 1925, taking the basis of revenue accruing from motor vehicle fees and gas tax at that time for financing hard surfaced roads, estimated that for the year 1929-1930 the receipts would amount to $3,048,100. The increase in gasoline tax and other fees by Legislature Act is taken into consideration as a basis of estimate.

The anticipated receipts accruing from the Motor Vehicle Department for the ensuing budget, 1929-1930, amounts to $3,048,181. The reader can readily see that the Lane plan offered for the financing of the Highway Department for hard surfaced roads has increased in revenue from the Motor Vehicle Department from the year 1923 to June 30, 1930, $81.00 over probable actual receipts. The estimate of motor vehicle revenue for the ensuing budget is very conservative, based on current receipts.

In conclusion we believe that it is worth something to have a satisfied motorist when he gets home. Good roads and no dust will make a contented car owner-soothe his temper and not cause him to exhaust his unwritten vocabulary.