Commission Notes

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS ARIZONA HIGHWAY COMMISSION NOTES

The Arizona State Highway Commission met in regular session in its of fice in the Highway Building at 11:30 a. m., January 31, 1933. Those present were Vice-Chairman Hart, Commissioners Barth, Addams and Mansfield, Vice-Chairman acting as Chairman.Ray N. Vyne of Prescott, by appointment ment of the Governor of Arizona, B. B. Moeur, took his seat as Highway Commissioner of Arizona, his term of office expiring February 1st, 1935. Mr. Vyne was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Commissioner S. R. Trengove.

A resolution was adopted thanking Mr. John B. Hart for his untiring and able efforts on behalf of the State of Arizona. Mr. Hart thanked the Commission for its attitude towards him during the past two years and wished the new commission success.

A resolution was adopted thanking Mr. A. A. Johns for his efficient and straight-forward conduct while serving as Commissioner on a recess appointment and it was regularly moved, seconded and unanimously carried that a copy of the resolution be sent to Mr. Johns.

It was moved, seconded and unanimously carried that, inasmuch as the term of one of the members of the Commission expired at midnight on January 31, and his successor does not therefore have an opportunity to participate in an organization meeting, the Commission adjourn until February 15, 1933.

February 1, 1933 The Arizona Highway Commission met in special session at 10:00 a. m., February 1, 1933, those present were Commissioners Addams, Barth, Mansfield, Vyne and Shelton P. Dowell of Douglas.

Commissioner Dowell took his seat as Highway Commission by appointment of Governor B. B. Moeur, his term expiring February 1, 1939.

Reorganization of the Commission was the first matter taken up. It was regularly moved by Commissioner Addams, seconded by Commissioner Barth and unanimously carried that Commissioner Dowell be made Chairman and Ray N. Vyne Vice-Chairman. It was regularly moved, seconded and carried that Mr. C. C. Jarrett be appointed Secretary of the Highway Commission, appointment to be effective at once.

Various communications and resolu tions were read by the Secretary. A re-port of commodity purchases made by the Purchasing Department for the year 1932 was presented to the Commission. The matter of price on cedar posts was brought up by Commissioner Mansfield. State Engineer O'Connell stated that including in the specifications "Posts made of Juniper" had not increased the price of contracts. Commissioner Mansfield requested the Purchasing Agent to furnish the Department with a list showing comparison of prices on posts and Commissioner Addams requested the Engineering Department to furnish a comparison of tensile strength of Juni per posts with Redwood posts.

It was regularly moved by Commissioner Addams, seconded by Commissioner Barth and unanimously carried that Mr. N. G. Hill be requested to furnish the Department with a financial statement up to date, certified to by a public accountant. State Engineer O'Connell was re quested to investigate immediately the amount, and have tests made, of the material from the gravel pit from which Mr. Hill intends to obtain part of the mineral aggregate for Project 62-A.

Afternoon Session

It was regularly moved, seconded and carried that copies of a letter from the "Engineering News Record", re lative to House Bill No. 37, be sent to Governor Moeur, Registrar of Contrac tors, Speaker of the House of Repre sentatives and President of the State Senate.

It was regularly moved, seconded and carried that Mr. Sam Bailie be thanked for his work in putting into effect a schoolboy patrol in the Alma Public School district of Mesa. A letter from James M. Hall, Superintendent of High way Patrol, was read stating that the road through this school district had been marked, showing there was a school in the vicinity.

The Commission went on record as favoring the creation of the central filing of all automobile contracts, chat tel mortgages and satisfaction of mort gages on automobiles, with the Motor Vehicle Division.

Attorney Salmon presented a bill to the Commission whereby all gasoline or motor vehicle fuels imported into the state in tanks containing more than manufacturers' standard specifications for the make of the car, be taxed. It was regularly moved, seconded and unanimously carried that the Commission go on record as favoring the bill.

Attorney Salmon stated the House of Representatives had passed a bill per taining to the elimination of the mill tax and increasing the gas tax to five cents from and after the 1st of July, this year; the state to receive six tenths, the counties three-tenths and the Reconstruction Finance Corporation one-tenth. It was regularly moved, seconded and carried that the Commis sion reaffirm its recommendation of the passage of the bill as originally in troduced; the state to receive seven tenths and the counties three-tenths of the gasoline tax.

It was regularly moved, seconded and carried that the Joint Memorial Bill, as read by the Secretary, recommending to the U. S. Congress the passage of Senate Bill 36, or a similar bill, author izing Federal Aid for highway con struction in an amount consistent with other governmental expenditures, be ap proved.

It was moved, seconded and carried that the Commission request the pas sage of a bill pertaining to the sale of seized vehicles stored in the High way Department yards.

It was unanimously moved, seconded and carried that the Commission go on record as opposing a bill exempting mail carriers, civil service employees of the post-office department and the federal government, from tax on fuel used by them in the distribution of mail. Attorney Salmon was instructed to draft a bill for the next meeting of the Commission relating to motor carriers and to provide for the licensing and taxation thereof, and repealing article 3 of chapter 13 and article 7 of chap ter 31, Revised Code of 1928, and mak ing provision for the validity of the remainder of the law if part thereof is held unconstitutional.

It was unanimously moved, seconded and carried that all state cars, with the exception of the car used by the Commis sion and the State Engineer, be painted aluminum and the state insig nia be placed on all state cars.

The Assistant Purchasing Agent was asked to take up with the four major tire companies the matter of purchasing all tires from them, and try to reach some agreement whereby the state would receive a better percentage off the tires; such tires to be taken out of the dealer's stock as needed, individual dealers to receive percentage on them and the tires marked or stamped in some manner or other by which they may be identified as state property. It was regularly moved, seconded and carried that the Assistant Attorney General act on the Hill contract as best he can in conjunction with the State Engineer, until the next meeting of the Commission.

FEBRUARY, 1933 ARIZONA HIGHWAYS

The Commission adjourned at 4:30 p. m., to meet again in official session February 4, 1933, at 10:00 a. m.

Here is a new task for chambers of commerce. Modern electrical power and its economical conveyance over long distances, new methods of transportation have rendered wholly unnecessary the concentration of industries in closely congested centers. Let them be moved out from the cities to a thousand villages and towns. Let their groups of employees go with them. Frank D. Loomis, secretary, Chicago Community Trust.

ARIZONA HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT

CHART SHOWING PERCENTAGE OF VARIOUS ITEMS THAT MAKE UP MAINTENANCE EXPENDITURES. JULY 1st 1930 to JUNE 30th 1932 Payments to contractors Engineering Construction Plans Testing Location Engineering Right of Way Purchuses Sture Forces Total 1,212,275.72 157,614.09 21,195 55 14.206.60 55,895.35 20, 275 17 20,446.85 1,491, 909.50 An average of 77.99% Federal Aid was received on the total sum of the above items, an amount of $1,079,473,00

ARIZONA HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT

CHART SHOWING PERCENTAGE OF VARIOUS ITEMS THAT WENT TO MAKE UP CONSTRUCTION ON TEN REGULAR FEDERAL AID PROJELTS, ALSO PERCENTAGE of Funds

Percentage of Funds

Payments to Contracto۲۵ 81.26%

Construction Engineering 10.56 2

Execution Plans 162 Testing Right of Hoy 69 Srute Forces 1.37% Engineering

Federal Aid Fund 72.36 %

State Funds 2764%

Total $ 1,491,909.50

Total 31,491,909.50

MANY ACCIDENTS

The sober but careless automobile driver is responsible for more motor vehicle fatalities than the drunken driver, according to an analysis of 33,500 traffic fatalities by the National Safety Council. While the drunken driver should be shown little mercy if any, and is a pest on the road, he is not the chief cause of traffic accidents, says the report. He is held accountable for less than two per cent of the fatalities last year, while his first cousin, the drunken pedestrian, is blamed for three per cent.

The chief offender, according to the findings of the council, is the young fellow who hasn't had a drop of liquor but who, when he gets behind the steering wheel becomes drunk with his own importance..

In Australia, where there are few legal restrictions on drinking liquor, drunken drivers are very rare. This is said to be due to the fact that the courts show little compassion when a driver who has been drinking becomes involved in an accident.

An average 80.62% Federal Aid was received the for total sum of the abore items. $878,537.12