The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1909-02-11
GOOD ROADS
MEETING HELD
w. o. HOTCHKISS OF MADISON
TELLS OF THE
WORK
LOCAL ORGANIZATION COMPLETED
A Field Committee From Over The
County VIII
Aid.
LOCAL ORGANIZATION COMPLETED

The Sauk.County Good Roads associ-
alton held meeting Thursday night
and completed their organization.
About forty people were present among
them being considerable number of
the county board members.
The meeting was called to order by
by the president, H. A. Hill, who
briefly outlined the objects of the asso-
citation. He then introduced w. @.
Hotchkiss of Madison, the chief of
chief of the Highway Division of the
State Geological Survey, who spoke
on the bill that is introduced in the
legislature providing for state aid for
roads, Mr.. Hotchkiss complimented
the association very highly and told
how Sauk county is held up as model
county in its interest for good roads.
He expressed the opinion that the
county Good Roads association could
accomplish great deal of good by get
ting the voters of the county interested
in the good roads movement.
With regard to legislation for state
aid he outlined two of the important
features that should be looked after
most carefully. The most important
thing in this legislation is carefully
safe guarding the state money so that
it can never be used to help build up
a political machine. To secure this
the expending of the state aid should
be in the hands of commission who
are not appointed but are selected be-
cause they hold some position entire
ly comm nected with politics.
The present Geological Survey
commission is formed in this man
ner and by adding to it the deans
of the colleges of engineering and agri-
culture an ideal commission would be
available. This co T mission has been
in charge of the states road work and
it would seem only reasonable to con-
tinue the work in their control. They
receive no salary fortheir work and the
cheapest and most efficient administra-
tiOn would result. n...s,
Mr.. Hotchkiss also spoke of the ne
cessity of securing a method of distri-
buting the state aid money that would
not favor any county-so that the rich
the poor counties-the small and the
large-would each be justly treated.
The plan proposed is a combination
of different plans each of which alone
would unjustly favor some county. 1t
provides that one third of the state aid
shall be distributed equally among the
counties. This favors the small and
poor counties. One third to be divid-
ed among the counties on the basis of
valuation. This favors the wealthy
counties. The last third to be divided
on the basis of area. This faVors the
large counties whether they are rich
or poor. The whole plan works out the
most equitably of any of the large num-
ber figured on.
Mr.. Hotchkiss invited questions and
general discussion followed in which
several of the members urged law
compelling road taxes to be paid in
cash.
The by laws and constitution of the
association were then read and the
business organization completed. The
association plans to hold annual meet
ings in Baraboo at the time of the
county board meeting in November
and at such other times and places as
they are needed.
J. T. Donaghey, the secretary, was
directed to appoint field committee
consisting of one member from each
town, city, and village to dosuch work
as seems advisable IN promoting road
improvement.