Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1906-12-27


been estimated from actual meas
urements TO be from ten TO fifteen
percent of the total mileage of all
roads to be found in we'll settled
agricultural sections.
II will be thus seen that the main
object to be attained by state aid lie
to direct the expenditure of money
that 10 now raised for the repair OF
the roads in the various communi.
ties, aud to 80 direct this expendi.
ture in the building fret those
roads and parts of roads which are
most needed. The state law, there.
fore. which provides for proper
expenditure of money that is now
raised will, in the great majority OF
instances, more nearly meet the
needs of states which are to con.
slider state highway legislation
than any other that can be sug-
gested.
It has been the experience in
many sta ties where highway legis.
lation has been proposed involving
the appropriation of considerable
amount of money, that auy such
measure met the stoutest opposi.
ton for fear of increase in the ta1
rate. This opposition has often
been sufficiently strong to prevent
consideration, of a law providing
state aid for road construction.
The plan outlined here is one
which is to accomplish the main
purpose, at the same time without
involving any large appropriation.
so that the work may be done with
no material increase in the tax rate.
II such beginning could be
made, aud practical results shown,
1t would then be time enough to
ask for more money to construct
such roads as the needs OF com
munity require. Such law would
provide for the establishment OF a
state highway commission or blu.
reau which in many cases could,
with great benefit TO all concerned
cooperate with the established
state universities, and in Tact, have
on the state highway com mission
those actively interested in the
state university work. Under thit
board should be appointed high.
way engineer, who should have the
actual charge of the work, and the
practical carrying out of the plans.
The commission itself would attend
TO matters of general policy, which
could probably be sufficiently well
considered at monthly meetings.
For the maintenance of the engin.
eering staff and carrying on the en-.
cheering work, there should be
small appropriation of from ten to
twenty thousand dollars, which Il
10 estimated would be sufficient for
carrying out practical work which
will cost from ten to fifteen timee
10 much. The state highway com.
nission should also have power TO
give advice concerning road i'm
Jrovement, and TO construct roade
N such q manner and of such ma.
terials az shall beat meet the condi.
lions presented in the different To-
caiities.
Ia order TO make this program
Effective, the various towns or
townships, as the case may be.
which annually spend $4,000 or
more on their roads and bridges,
shall be required to expend, under
the direction of the state board, not
lees than 10 percent of such amount
20 10 Used for the public roads and
Dridges In that particular county
Or township. The Law should allow
the selection of the roads TO be i'm
proved to be made by the local
authorities, which selection, how
ever. Shonld be subject to the ap
proval of the state board. Having
lecided upon the roads TO be i'm
proved, the state highway board
aill be required 10 draw speci6ca-
tIons, and superintend the con-
,truc(lon Of the work accordingly.
Such q plan, q IL believed. would
ss advisable for many reaaons: t.
4ould, 60 before po'nlcd ont pre-
leol talllag fer aeE un|si'a' 81.