Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-03-20
FARMERS ARE INTERESTED
Commission Established One Y ar
and Now Systematic Census of
Traffic Is Being Made-Main.
tenance Given Special Attention
-Split-Iog Drag Endorsed.

liNG dNtudl pAlN SASetA OiHpA4shlhtiAI
has been necessarily limited Three
things were necessary;
First, to find out
Second, to demonstrate.
Third. TO convince
A summary of road expenditures of
the state shows that in 1905 the 20
tai cost of maintaining the 94.I4f
miles of public highways, including
both money and labor tax was 81
625. $50, of which $500, ,563 is the e.,
timated value OF the labor tax, leav.
ing $4.t34.s02 as the actual cash tax
raised. OF this amount $1SSS, 1870
was for bridges.
Mr., Johnson declared that for the
first time in Illinois a systematic cen.
slls of road traffic has been undertaken
and an actual count of vehicles pass
ing over some sixty roads in different
parts Of the state is made for three
or four times a month throughout
the year The results OF this census
will show, among other things, ex-
actly now the condition If the road
affects its use.
Special attention has been given i
the maintenance of earth roads by
road drags. A bulletin on drag
roads $4,000 copies) was issued the
past season, aud at present there
are about 1000 road drags in use in
different parts of the state. most OF
them made the past season. The
simple road drag is the best means o.
maintaining the clayey and black
gumbo roads which abound in Illinois,
and the results obtained can scarcely
be realized until actually seen.
There is in Illinois a convict labor
law which provides that the 5oarI
of prison industries of the state shall
furnish the state highway commission
crushed rock for free distribution
among the local road officials under
such rules and regulations as the
highway commission may prescribe
There are at present three crushe 3
in operation, one at the Joliet penn
Tertiary In the northern part Of tie
state, and two at the southern peni'
Tertiary. The combined capacity 81
these crushers is $50 cubic yards per
eight hours.
With low freight rates and free
material it is possible for those COM
munities which 40 not have road ma
terials to get the crushed rock from
, the penitentiaries at very low cost
and yet one portion of the state is
not taxed for the benefit of another
/ The question of a large state aid ap-
preparation is met completely with
| this method of cooperation.
The successful distribution Of tbs
free crushed stone has been made
/ possible by the low freight rates
granted by the railroads of the state
The law provides that the highway
commission shall be empowered tc
arrange for special freight rates
There has now been secured from all
/ the railroads in the state rate as
low as one-half cent per ton per mile
and from some roads rate OF three
mills per ton per mile
With The aid of the material thus
prepared tho commission has Deon
able TO construct experimental stone
reads in sections OF the state where
macadam roads had never before been
used or built, at a cost to the com.
mission Of little more than the ex
pense of supervisor The commits
sion also furnished the rollers and
sprinklera. as few communities are al
present provided with these neces
stiles for proper stone road building
In every instance these roads have
attracted much attention locally, ana
have well proved the value and ia
/ portance Of experimental work &
road building.
| In q number of counties 60 per
cent of the amount spent for roads
and bridges was 40r bridges, so this
| feature of highway work is one OF
particular Importance In Illinois
Only a casual investigation was nee
/ essary to establish the fact that a
Imajorty Of the bridges were about
! half the requisite length ana cost ap-
proxima " twice what they should.
The reason for this was lack of skilled
supervision. The commissioners ana
! supervisors have to eApend the tax
/ payers money for bridges a5ou.
which they know nothing~nothlng
about the requisite strength, nothing
about the proper cost To correct
these conditions the highway con-
mission offers free Of charge to the
local highway officials designs. est.
mates aud specifications for highway
bridges Of all kinds, and the demand
for this aid indicates that It win lie
one Of the most important phases OF
the work Of the commission. Already
plans and estimates for some nifty
bridges are under way.
The widespread interest taken in
the work OF highway improvement
and particularly in connection with
the state highway commissions. is
shown by the fact that 81 farmers in
stitutes requested the commission TO
furnish a speaker to discuss road i'm
provement In Illinois any plan Of
A'gnway work which does not ap.
l'ea1 TO the common sense Of the
.ners' institute is doomed to fail
ure.