The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1911-02-04

All hauls more than 1000 feet from
any cutting. one cent per cubic yard
per 100 feet.
Marquette county now hauls all ma
cadam rock or gravel By traction On !.
CINE ia trains OF four or i've cars.
Comparison 81 costs az against team
haul on an average two mile haul:
Team .7S per cubic YARD
Tractor 80 per cubic yard
: This tractor cost is considerable high
by fact Of its.being necessary TO build
a heavier road way to carry the trac-
ton train the particular road being in
loose sandy country. One OF the
benefits noted from this road which Is
in farming community is; previous
to macadam road. a load OF 1900 pounds
was all the farmers attempted to haul
TO town. Since the road was complet-
cd they are hauling $500 pounds over
the same route.
Marquette county mas built all IA
foot macadam road WAYS with three
foot shoulder on each size or q total OF
90 feet in width. This the engineer
says is too narrow and would recon.
mend 10 or Is foot road way; total
width 90 or "a feet.
Deeds or easements are taken for
all roads and placed on record. Very
little has been paiu for right-of- way,
and then only In cases OF improved
lands.
The contract cost per mile on all
work in Marquette county, we were
informed. was too high. but WAS on &C
count Of lack of bidders competent to
complete the work, but the commits
sioners were intent upon getting ON a
basis. and paid what they
knew was high price to get started.
they expect to be able to reduce this
They recommend contract work on
bios.
Marquette county has an investment
81 $2a. 500. 90 In road making maohin
sry. No bonds have ever been issued
by Marquette county Tor road improve
nents. The cost OF administration
and engineering It would seem is high,
out Is accounted for by the tact that
III roads had 10 be surveyed and map
ped in order TO lay out intelligently
system OF roads TO meet their require
nents. The general plan being to con.
,truct trunk roads and leave the cross
.oads to the townships The county
'osd commission does all surveying and
work necessary for the
townships when asked TO, and no
,harge Ia made for such work. This
s another. reason fer the securing high
cost OF administration item.
DELTA COUNTY.
This County Road Commission was
organized in 1892 ana Is composed OF
three members who are elected by pop
nlsr vote.
After some few years of day work
tnis method was sban toned in favor OF
the competitive bid plan which has
been in practice some five years.
Mr.. Gassman. Who is the present
chairman, has been member ever since
.he commission was organized and had
active charge OF the day work for some
years, said We now let all work out
1u-bids. and make a saving Of fully one
.hird in money. and get on the whole
better work with this saving in cost.
They employ an engineer who is in
direct charge OF all road improvements,
bridges inclnded This engineer il
paid at the rate Of 1928 90 per month,
and all work is done under his super
vision. and accepted only upon written
approval. The Commissioners receive
f3 90 per day for time actually spent
on road business. and receive about
II 90 per year per man.
One bond issue OF $50, 600. 90 WAS
msde at per cent on ten year bond.
A further bond Issue tor long bridge
wa, recently made for $40. 900. 90 these
were n four per cent bond.
Delta county board of Supervisors re-
Gently refused 10 submit a $50, 000. on
bonding proposition to the electors for
road Improvements,
The assessed valuation OF the county
10 about 50. 900. QUO. 90 and ABOUT
els. 600. 90 is raised annually tor county
road improvements.
All work is DOW done on the State
reward plan. but Is much hsmpered
on account OF lack Of funds
The Commission does any engi neer-
ing work needed in county by the
townships Upon application. free CT
cost 10 the township.
Macadam roads are being built al.
most entirely. But 10 is only old and
well established roads that are taken
up and this does not give full.idea Of
Gusts for comparison in Iron county on