Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-02
PERMANENT" ROADS.

Rock Island county has only about
one-half of a mile of what is called a
permanent" road and that is proving a
serious obstacle in the path of those
who are trying to bring about the con.
struction OF a system OF really good
highways here. This road is the one
on Twelfth street from Eighteenth ave.
nue. TO the entrance of Chippiannock
/ cemetery.
! III that's what they call a 'perma.
nent' road the fewer We have of them
the better" is the general comment
when allusion is made TO Twelfth
street in the course of the hard roads
campaign. 1t is a foregone conclusion
that the people are not going to bond
themselves to construct that kind of
highways, and they are inclined, with
this example in mind, to doubt the
ability OF the state highway engineers
However, there are a number of
things to take into consideration in
connection with Twelfth street and,
viewed in the proper light, this unfor-
tunate piece of work should not be
permitted TO turn the people aside
from a project which can hardly do
otherwise than further the interests
VI oil tlds5tS III the county.
The Twelfth street road was built
when the state highway organization
was young-in fact it was one of the
very first projects undertaken. 1t was
a good road in the first place and for
two or three years held up well. Had
IL been kept in its original condition
It would have been the best possible
aid TO the hard roads cause now. But
IL was not kept up.
Since It was built IL has carried
practically all the heavy traffic be-
tween Rock Island and the country
which supplies its produce, while all
the brick made in the plants in South
Rock Island and much of the coal
mined southeast of Milan have been
hauled over II. And nothing whatever
has been done to keep it up.
No paved street in Rock Island
which IS not provided with street car
lines. IS subjected 10 more severe or
more constant use than is Twelfth
street. The latter has gradually worn |
but and has been allowed to go from /
bad TO worse. Heavy rains have wash |
ed clay from the hills above upon II |
and this has never been removed ex.
cept as II blew away in dust stirred |
up by passing vehicles. There was no I
'und available for maintenance. Any
xind OF a road would have suffered
severely under such circumstances.
That macadam made from the lime
jtone OF this vicinity wears rapidly has
low been demonstrated to the salts
action OF all Everybody in Rock Is
and county who uses the highways
.nows It and the state officers are
qually aware OF IL. This kind of ,
ock grinds up under steel tires and
) carried into the air in the form of ,
ust and blown away. Even at that, II /
are is taken 90 fill the holes as fast as {
hey are noticed very good road can 1
q maintained.
But with what is known about the
manner in which this lime rock wears {
Ut II Is extremely improbable that c
itner the board of supervisors or the I
tate highway commission would ever $
onsent TO it's use for any considerable :
art OF the permanent roads which 9
ave been designated for Improvement r
nder the Tice act. II any are SO con- d
tructed some sort OF binder for the T
lrface will undoubtedly be used, and 4
should not be forgotten that the 4
ate is required to provide for main n
,nance IN any event.