The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-21
MONEY FOR ROADS
Shawnee County Spent So Thou
sand Last Year.
This Also Includes Expenditures
for Bridges.
THE HIGHWATERMARK
Indicates a New Era in Highway
improvement.
Means Much Financially to City
of Topeka.
THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

In the last year Shawnee county
spent s67,O64.42 for the improvement
Of her roads and bridges. This fact IS
shown in the annual report of J. Z.
Larimer county auditor, and of course
does not include any of the expense
for street and bridge improvement in
the city.
It is probable that the showing Of
Shawnee county for the year ending
July 1. has set a high water mark FOR
highway improvements in the state.
When the good roads movement was
HrSt advanced, Shawnee county ente--
ed the campaign for better highways
with an energy that has resulted in
thousands of dollars worth of valuable
improvements.
Following the big showing of last
year. it is probable that the county
Will make an even greater effort to-
ward highway improvements this year.
In fact. it is rumored that several
modern new roads will be built the
coming year and the work conducted
on a systematic basis.
In the twelve months just closed
several permanent new rock roads
were built. In addition to this miles
of good oil roads were built and thase
are kept in excellent repair Topeka
owners OF cars are probably better ac-
quainted with the road situation than
any other class of people Persons
who have compared the Shawnee
county roads with those of other cOun-
ties realize the extensive improvement
that has been made.
A comparison of the road and bridge
work of last year with the campaign
which closed july /. 1910. shows q net
gain of more than so per cent in the
twelve months just ended. In the
1910 report is found the information
that Shawnee county spent S23, 439.T2
for new bridges and bridge repairs as
inst Eg0 9T1 he
July /. this year. This gain was com
paratively small in comparison with
the permanent road campaign.
In the July, 1910, report is found the
statement that for that year the con-
uissioners spent S17726.7O for roads.
But the 1912 report shows gain of
more than 100 per cent in the improv >
ment of the highways. The figures
given by the auditor this year are $685.
1876. Probably no county in the state
made such marvellous record in the
good roads campaign. And followed by
this 100 per cent increase is the state
ment from county officials that the
work will be carried on this year and
the next and the next-until Shawnee
county has the best system of public
highways in the state.
At the present time ne roads in the
Calhoun Bluffs district are being re-
paired This road has for years been
one Of the most dangerous in the cour-
ty. Convict labor is used on the work
and if the trial proves a success, mil IS
of better roads will probably be built
with convict labor.
Not only has the good roads cam
paign been a joy and comfort to the
man with a touring car. but it has been
a source Of much revenue to Topeka
and other towns in the county. With
good roads has come the solution OF
the farmers troubles and mis- erOrs
are now moved with ease, where in the
past it required a four ox team to
bring a load of corn to Topeka. Witt
each mile of good road the farmers
products have been brought closer to a
ready market and the wise agricultur-
list never complains when his taxes
are invested in better roads.