The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-05-15
A ROAD BEE IN MICHIGAN.

Thursday and Friday, June 4 and
have been proclaimed as good roads"
days by Governor Ferris who asks the
people of the state To as far as possible
turn out on those dates and work ON
the roads Of their respective communi-
ties under planned and competent SUI
pervision.
The plan has been tried in other
states with great success. much en-
thusiasm having marked such occa-
siUus. The most prominent citizens and
officials. even governors themselves,
have donHed oyeralls ana worked un-
der the direction Of road experts. city.
county ana state. Many miles Of good
roads have been built in this way in Il
remarkably short space Of time. There
i- no reason why as good results can
not Doe accomplished in Michigan,
which, in later years, has paid mu'h
attention ~ highway improvements.
Houghton county has adopted the
county road system ana the county
commission has made excellent head
way iu It's program for the construc-
ton of modern. permanent roads. 1t
has awakened a lively interest in good
roads su b. is possible that the COVER
Eor's suggestion for the observance IF
TWO road bee days may meet with
general endorsement here. II so there
ought 10 Doc mo- difficulty in making Il
working Arrangement between the
county road commissioners. township
highway commissioners and public
spirited citizens
In his proclamation. the governor
says:
In 1913 the townships of Michigan
raised $i33G,O29 for the Improvement
and repair of highways. - counties
under the county road system levied
county road taxes amounting to 81
Gzi,Gsl and the state appropriated
100000 for the payment of state re-
wards making grand total of $6.757,-
40 which was raised by direct taxa
ton and expended on the rural high
ways. Added to this, many townships
aud counties raised money by bonding
and many public spirited citizens gave
freely in money and labor, so that 1t is
low estimate to say that at least
seven millions of dollars were expenJ
ed on Michigan's roads during the
past year.
While this has resulted i'm the build
ing Of more miles of excellent high
ways than were ever before built in a
single year. there is still much To Le
desired. The people want more good
roads and want all Of the roads cared
for better than they have been in the
past.
Last year on June 9th the Huron
Shore Road Association observed tho
first Road Bee Day" ever held ~
this state. II was success: wet
pieces Of road were drained; logs
roots, stumps and stones were removed
from the roadway; bad stretches oi
clay were sanded; bad pieces of sand
were clayed; gravel was hauled; road
drags were set 10 work and altogether
so much enthusiasm was aroused that
many farmers put in full week in
stead 81 one day. by this concerted
effort some 200 miles of highway IN
eastern Michigan. which In some places
was very bad. was made into a very
passuble road.
At the request Of the Michigan Goo,
Roads Association, the Huron Shore
Road Association and the West Michi'
gan Pike Association. and to the enc
that this good work may extend Owe
the state and all the people receive TIN
benefits, l. Woodbridge ". Ferris, d.
ask that the people of the state o
Michigan set apart Thursday and Fri
day, june 4th and 5th. 1914. as ROAD
Bee Days ana as far as possible tdrr
out and work under we'll planned an'
competent supervision on the highway
Of this state i'm such manner as shall