The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1908-02-21

example, Our area is within 300 square
miles of equaling that Of all the other
New England states. Our population
is about so per cent more than that of
the city Of Boston and our valuation
about one-tenth that Of Massachusetts.
In the matter of valuations l might
say that we have only sixty-three cities
and towns in the state which have d
valuation Of 81, 100000. We have 222
towns with q valuation less than $3.50
coo each. and three-fourths OF all our
towns are less than 100000 in yalua-
| ton. In many Of our towns, especially
the smaller ones, highway taxes alone
run from l to 3 cents, S o o SEQ when
these towns make appropriations for
good roads they are really struggling
to improve their condition.
We have, however, made a start in
the matter of state road building and
are making progress every year. In
1901 a state road law was passed
which was general in its application
that is, it provided that every town in
the state might have state aid IN COM
plying with certain conditions. The
amount Which any town could eXpend
under this original law was only 5000
per year, and the maximum state aid
allowed OIL account of such expendi-
ture was 500. Succeeding legislatures
raised the amount until at present 5000
is the maximum amount Il town may
eXpend and be reimbursed by the state
for half It's expenditure.
The first year of the law only twelve
towns took advantage of its provisions,
while last year, the sixth year Of its
operation, 800 towns built their state
roads and received state aid. This
year 356 towns are building sections
of state road.
Our law provides that when d town
makes appropriation and declares its
intention to build state road the county
commissioners shall designate in that
town the main travelled thoroughfare.
which shall thereafter be known as the
state road. and that said appropriation
shall be expended in improving some
section Of this road. Under this pro-
vision for designating state roads
about 2,400 miles of road have already
been laid out.
Up to the close of last year about
$4,000 had been expended by the
towns and the state in this reconstruc-
ton work, and nearly 300 miles OF
road had been worked upon. The
work consists mainly in cutting down
excessive grades, raising roads in
swamps and low places. Strengthening
crooked roads, taking out sharp curve
and undertaking quagmires.
In general our surfacinS material
consists Of gravel. but in many cases
only the natural sell is used for this
purpose, especially if gravel cannot be
obtained within two miles of the loca-
ton Of the work. Probably in forty
towns in the state the s%urfacing mate
rial is crushed stone.
The work up TO the present time has
been under the direct supervision of
the various boards Of county commits
siOners. AS the law provides for in
spection Of the work after it is COM
lleIeu Suu the cOnullSSlOleTS nave not :
in general insisted on one standard of
work. there have been quite a good
many variations in the completed
roads. but progress is being made each
year, and we are gradually approach
ing something in the line of uniform
ity. The standard which we ask to
have maintained is for a road twenty
one feet wide which shall have at
least twelve feet Of hardened track,
with earth shoulders to make up the
remaining width.
Our general specification is for sur
facing material to be eight inches thick
in the center and six inches thick on
the shoulders, to be screened into sizes
and deposited in layers and rolled
wherever possible. We find that such
work where it is carefully and well
averages in cost from So to 80
cents per Hneal foot.