The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-12-31
State Senator TIce Of Illinois, Author
Of State Aid Road Law Thinks
New Measure
Good.
MILLIONS LOST YEARLY
Old Plan Of Three Highway Commits.
sIoners for Each Township Did
Not Produce
Results.

GREENvIEW. H., Dec. 81.-With
the new year to witness the first real
trials OF the new Tics state aid road
law, presaging the greatest era in the
history OF road development In nli-
no1s, State Senator Homer J. Tice.
author Of the law, writing from his
home here for the United Press, re-
fused to commit himself either to the
principle OF long through routes be-
tween the largest cities or the other
extr sme, the splitting up of the roao
work into small disconnected SEQ
tons
This law contemplates the build
Ing of permanent roads between the
main market centers and principal
Cities, said Tice ITO spend the
major portion OF the funds appropri-
ated on long through routes would
circumscribe the benefits and would
meet with more opposition than If the
people saw that they in time would
get results
Tics adds, however, that he be-
lieyes that in each county some def
mite policy should be determined by
the county road commissioner work
ing with the county commissioners or
supervisors, and this policy followed
out until all the contemplated roads
ara finished.
In the specific case of road be-
tween Springfield and Jacksonville.
which has been tentatively planned
by the commissi oners Of both Morgan
and Sangmon counties, he declined 70
1 express an opinion.
Il am not familiar enough with the
circumstances he said.
The building of the road Is oppos.
ed by residents along other highway,
In Sangamon county, it is known, al.
though all Morgan county is united In
preference of route to the state cap
ital.
lice said he was unwilling to take
part in any sectional squabbles In re.
GARD to the location of roads, prefer
ring to give such offices as he NAV
have to the furthering Of the genera,
principles OF the measure.
i Neither do | care to take any side
In the various local discussions as to
whether townships shall have one or
TWO highway commissioners, he said.
The new law gives each township
its option"
He then proceeds to discuss thi
aspect of the road problem as follows.
Public discussion of this particular
feature of the problem, both from an
economical and efficiency standpo Mt,
first attracted attention during the
investigations made by the joint leg.
fslative COMMITTEES appointed by the
Il 4lth general assembly for the purpo se
OF considering the road question. II
was found that under our present
| highway system we hal 1900 high
way commissioners or three for each
of ths 1900 townships and road dis
trlcts In the state. The advocates OF
new highway system placed par
ticular stress upon the lack OF co.
operation amongst these officials in
their work; lack of uniform and sys.
tematic road construction and main.
tenance; lack of a uniform system in
accounting for funds received and ex.
pended; lack of personal supervis-
ion and lack OF knowledge and ira n.
Ing as to and in the proper methods
OF constructing and maintaining the
public roads. The whole resulting in
much useless expenditure of money,
estimated by those who had given the
question careful study, to be more
than 100000, per year, for which
no permanent results were obtained
The situation was partly attributed
to the Inadequate salary paid $500
per day for actual time served by
each commissioner, and the further
fact that practically all the highway
commissioners were farmers who, OF
necessity, Save their time to- their
own business during the spring and
summer, Just the season when road
work to be effective must be done.
1t was contsnded that by reducing
the number from three to one com
missioner in each township or road
district salary could be paid which
would be an inducement for compel
ent men to aspire to the Office and
that they would give practically all
their time to the duties OF the posi-.
ton. A further argument. Under the
three commissioner system" each
township is divided into three divis
ions or districts. Each commissioner
having charge Of one division II
which he exercised, full authority an
followed his individual ideal and
plans thus really creating three indi
vidual and independent systems In
each township or 1900 such systems
in the state. BY reducing the numtel
to one. commissioner, uniform ant
systematic plan for the whole town