The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1911-08-03
OFFERS AID TO ALL COUNTIES
Insists, However, that the Towns in
the Various Counties Must Take I'M
mediate Action to Secure Benefits of
State Funds



town boards in the state better ac-
quainted with the new law in regard to
state aid for highways, the commission
has sent to the chairman OF every town
in the county the following letter:
To the Town Chairmen:
The legislature of 1911 passed law
(Chapter 337, Laws of 1917 creating
state highway commission and provid-
ing for system Of prospective state
highways. An annual appropriation of
$a50,000 was made for the purpose of
providing state aid in 1912 and succeed
ing years to those towns and counties
which vote taxes for the Improvement
of any road or bridge on the system
of prospective state highways.
The new law makes little change in
the present system in those counties
which have been doing work under the
county aid laws of 1907, except that it
adds the state as a contributor to the
cost of construction, and gives to the
state highway commission sufficient
authority to insure that the state S
money is wisely and economically spent
In those counties which have taken no
action under the 1907 laws, it will be
necessary for the county board to take
action under this law at the Novem-
Der, 1911 session, if any part of the
state aid fund is desired for construc-
tion in 1912.
The commission is very DESTROYS of
aiding the towns and counties in every
possible manner, and takes this method
of letting each town chairman know
what his town must do in order TO
get county and state aid for road or
bridge construction in 1912. Each town
viii fall in one or more of the follow
ing classes:
Glass One.
Towns which have voted tax for
county aid road construction in 1917
No further action by the voters of the
Gown is necessary.
Glass Two
Towns in Glass l which have borrow
ed the money and built their road in
1911.-No part of the state aid fund
for 1912 is available for work done in
1911. Such towns will have to follow
the course outlined for towns in class 8.
Glass 8.
Towns which have not voted a tax
for county aid road construction in
1912--Such towns can vote tax of not
less than $500 for road construction or
not lass than $3.50 for bridge construc-
lion, or both, at special town meeting.
Glass Four.
Towns which have voted tax for
county aid road construction in any
year previous to 1912 and have the pro-
ceeds of such tax in the town treasury
These towns can get county and state
aid in 1912 If they vote at special
town meeting to devote such proceeds
TO state all construction.
Glass Five.
Towns which have voted a tax to
build county aid bridge in 1912
Such towns can by voting at a special
town meeting to devote the proceeds
of the tax to state aid construction, oct
county and state aid if the bridge is
built in 1912.
General Requirements Applying to the
Towns in Every Glass.
If the state fund is sufficient the
state pays SO IS per cent of the cost of
roads and 20 per cent of the cost of
bridges. Unless the county boards fix
other percentages, the county and the
town share equally the remainder of
the cost.
County and state aid is available not
only for building stone and gravel
roads, but for the permanent improve
ment of earth roads as well, and for
building any bridge over six feet in
span. All roads and bridges voted to
be improved must lie on the system of
prospective state highways. If the
county has no system the town can vote
and the town board shall select the
road or bridge to be improved after the
county board selects a system. Special
town meetings must be held on or be-
fore September LIST. Town boards must
petition the county board through the
county clerk on or before September
!. Petitions should state the amount
of tax voted and give description of
the road or bridge to be constructed.
Counties which wish to build a road
in 1912 with county and state funds
must vote county tax for the purpose
at a special meeting of the county
board held on or before October /.
The commission win gladly answer
any question concerning features of the
law not explained in this necessarily
short letter. It has in preparation a
bulletin containing the law in full, to-
gether with notes on and explanations
sfLts various provisions, which will be