The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-03-02
PERMANENT ROADS FOR THE
COUNTRY.

The construction OF permanent roads
for the country towns in Illinois, Mis-
souri, and other of the states which are
largely prairie, has for several months
been under discussion. Legislative aid
has been sought to carry out this OBJ
ject. The advantages of macadam or
gravel roads On the main lines of trav-
Ell away from the railroads are too
many to be briefly described. Large
neighborhoods in the prairie districts
are often for months rendered almost
inaccessible to travel, causing great in
conveniences and distractions to bust
ness. A properly constructed road
would, in many cases, render the agri-
cultural districts independent of rail.
roads, and afford facilities for market
ing their products. Kenosha county
which is seldom behind in enterprises
of public utility, will no doubt in due
time consider the practicability of con-
structing these Improvements. The
kind of material required, the cost Of
building per rod, and other necessary
information, can be learned from tie
experience and investigation of those
now adti 7ely engaged in furthering
this improvement. There may be some
readers who regard the construction
of the kind of roads referred 10 for
general use as visionary and imp;acti-
cable, but our neighbors in the site of
Illinois do not think so; they have
bill now before the legislature ofthat
state, a copy of which is found blow.
Although not adapted to the fofm of
county government in Wisconsin, it
suggests the general principles ofsuch
a law
The following is Phocion Howard's
bill for new Road law, now peiding
in the Illinois Senate:
A bill for an act to encourage thecon-
struction of permanent state roads:
SECTION /. That for the purpose of
encouraging the construction of per-
manent rock, gravel or macadam pads
in this State, and for the purpose Of re-
imbursing the several counties in the
State in such sums as have been levied
in excess of taxation and now remain
to the credit of the revenue fund, there
be appropriated out of the general re-
venue fund, and apportioned among
the several counties Of this Sta6
sum equal to the amount gross lezied
! by said county or other authorities
during the year 1888, and every year
thereafter, for road and bridge our
poses.
SEC. 2. That it shall be the dutL of
| the Auditor of State to annuaIly,be-
fore the first day of July, make slch
pro-rata credit TO all such countie as
avail themselves of the provisions of
this act, and upon the completion of
this pro-rata allotment his warrant
upon the State Treasurer shall shnd
to the credit of such county, to be paid
when called for.
Sec. 8. That the provisions of his
act shall apply only to such county
authorities as begin and carry onthe
construction of permanent roads by
responsible contract, and under thedi-
rection of competent civil engineer.
Later: Since the above was put in
type, it is noticed Senator Flint, of Ills
state, has introduced a measure in Dur
legislature providing for the COLLECTION
of information on the subject of M
proved roads. His plan proposes to
authorize the officers Of the State Ag-
ricultural Society to offer premiumsas
follows: Best method for making
country roads of earth, macadam or
gravel, 5000; the best for paving streets
with stone or composition, $50; he
best for paving streets with WOOD,
S15O.