The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-09-25

license fund. II Is proposed to grad
ually take over the care OF all OF the
more important roads In every coun-
ty in the state, after their initial con
structlon, thus permitting the coun'
ties TO devote their energies TO the
construction, maintenance and repair
Of the less important roads.
Up 10 within the past year or two,
little attention was given 10 the test
ing and analysis Of the materials used .
ia the construction Of roads. And yet
the Importance OF such work can not
be overestimated, II proper consider
alton Is given 10 the durability and
future life Of the roads. Now, with
the operation OF a state highway de-
partment, every piece or part OF ma
terial which goes into Ohio's roads Is
subjected to test as to its consistency
and soundness, and more than this,
every county road building official Is
nj liberty TO take advantage OF the
states testing laboratory, so that the
counties, In building their roads, may
exercise the same care. This labora-
tory service is free of cost to the coun-
ties and makes unnecessary the main
tenance Of laboratory in each OF the
eighty.elght counties Of the state.
What Under County Plan7
With each of the eighty-elght coun-
ties OF the state working independent
ly of each other, endless confusion,
duplication OF effort, the construction
OF roads which would not connect
with the roads Of adjoining counties.
greatly increased cost, lack OF uni
formity and serious loss Of time would
undoubtedly follow. The road build
ers Of one county would have no
means Of knowing the exact plans OF
improvement contemplated by anoth-
er county. They would know nothing
OF proposed width Of roadways and
bridges, or of the kinds Of materials
10 be used. The result would be the
construction of a crazy quilt or patch
work system of roads which would
retard the growth and prosperity Of
the state to such a degree that Il
would be set back quarter of a cen
tury. Coming down to the matter of
cost, 1t Is quite obvious that the same
figures could not be obtained on short
sections of roads such as would be
given out for Improvement by each OF
the eighty-eight counties, as is posi-
BILE under the present system, with a
central bureau or department in a po-
sition to ask bids on several miles or
more, running through a number Of
counties. Again, under the present
system, contractors and material men
require only a small selling force,
having to deal with but one buying
source, while under the county plan
they would be compelled to maintain
a force large enough to include eighty
eight different purchasing sources,
and every dollar of this additional ex-
pense would be tackled on to the price
Of the road to be improved.
Federal Aid For Ohio.
The federal Office OF public roads at
Washington has repeatedly declared
itself in favor Of the statewide system
of road betterment. Recently Ohio
was fortunate enough to obtain $780,
O0C out of a total appropriation Of
100000 for the improvement of the
country's post roads-and which 10
nearly twice the amount awarded to
any other state-as federal aid in the
improvement of the old National road
between GAINESVILLE and Hebron, about
twentyfour miles This would not
have been possible under the county
plan. Ohio has reasons to expect mil
lions Of federal aid in road building
in the near future, with the passage
of the Shackeford or other road i'm
provement bills now pending in the
national congress. IT might not par
ticipate In a single dollar OF the great
funds to be awarded the various
states If we return to the county plan.
thus Serving notice upon the federal
government and to our sister states
that we have forsaken the plan adopt
ed by all of the progressive states and
have returned to the methods Of the
mound building Indians and the buff
Palo. AS a direct result of the state
being able to contract for the inn
provement of the whole of that part
Of the old National road running
through Muskingum and Licking coun-
lies, saving of about $4,000 was ef-
'ected. This is only illustrative of the
economy to be found in that plan
which permits the entering into con-
.ract for many miles at time.
The county plan will not do. It has
1een condemned by every road build
ng expert, by the federal government,
)y every progressive state and by
Every student of the subject every
where. 1t is costly, cumbersome, i'm
PRACTICAL and meaningless. The coun-
y commissioners themselves, gener-
lily speaking, do not favor it, for a
'ear ago, at their annual meeting held
n the city of Columbus, when it was
that the automobile or main
enance fund be divided equally
Imong the counties instead of leav-
ng it with the state highway depart
nent, as at present, not a single vote
vas cast in favor of the resolution.
wen its author finally voting against
t.
On the other hand, the state system
# highway Improvement has met with
ation-wide commendation and ap-
roval. 1t means the construction of
practical and beautiful
Dads connecting anywhere and eyery-
7here. It means perfect cooperation
etween township, county, state ana
alton. 1t means that the people will
et the best possible results at tha