Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-07

in township is as the parts of high
ways already designated for improve
ment under the Tice law for the begin
ming OF work Mr.. Hanna confessed
that he didn't know where section In
township is was and there was no one
present at the meeting to enlighten
either the committee or the board on
the subject.
The chairman OF the committee
further stated that the matter would
have TO be referred 10 the state high
way commission which very likely
would have ideas OF its own anyway.
and would probably override the board
in whatever action IL took. So with the
question thus lucidly placed before 1t
and its own responsibility questioned
the board voted 10 adopt the report.
Now section 3, township is. is the
one I'm which the station OF Joslin is.
located The 5000 feet of road recon-
mended for improvement passes
through Joslin.
Mr.. Hanna, in presenting the report,
said. with truth. that the interest of
the people living in the country must
be enlisted TO make road improvement
possible For this reason the commit
tee favored starting work in the two
ends of the county instead of in the
middle so that it would be done at the
doors of the farmers. so to speak. and
they would feel a greater interest in
Il. The committees idea was that the
first sections OF roads should be eX-
perimental and should serve as object
lessons.
Il is admitted that the committee
had the right idea in wishing to
arouse a personal interest in as many
people as possible in permanent road
But how many OF the
people in the upper end OF the county
will have occasion to use the road az
Joslin and how many of those in the
lower end will ordinarily travel over
the road west OF Taylor Ridge? The
extreme north ends and extreme west
of the county and all the part lying
between Yuma and EdginEton town !
ships. including Coe, Cordova, Port
Byron. Hampton, South Moline. Coal /,
Valley. Rural. Bowling. Black Hawk, |
Andalusia and Drury, are virtually left |
1ut of consideration. To most of those |
living in these townships the object |
essen will be lost.
Nearly everybody in the county oc-
,asionally comes TO the county seat |
and to Moline. The tendency of |
ravel is bent this way by both bust |
Tess and pleasure. II the approaches |
o these cities were improved first /
Yearly everybody would be benefited |
At least more would feel that they
we're getting more for the money
expended than under the plan adopted
" the board.
Furthermore, material for road
can be put on the ground
much more cheaply near the cities
han at the remote points indicated
nd the meagre funds available for
he purpose would improve longer
tretches of road, which is an import
mt consideration, especially at the
of the undertaking.
Apparently the committee did not
Ontemplate continuing the work from
he points of beginning. intending that
he isolated sections of improved high
ray should be connected up later by
uilding out from the cities. Now. it
; well known that il is not satisfac-
DRY TO permanently improve short
tretches of road, for in rainy weather
lud is carried onto them from both
nds and maintenance is more expen-
i've than If connected at one end with
Their improved roads, such as city I
treets. Probabilities are that the I
mall stretches OF roads indicated
ould rapidly deteriorate and after a
Nv years. instead of furnishing an
rgument for general road betterment,
ould be pointed TO by those taking
lie other side of the question.
Yuma and Edgington townships are
Ist as much entitled to permanent
'ads as any other part of the county
hat is not the question. The pur-
'se should be TO benefit and thereby I
terest the greatest possible proper /
on of the people in the county. There {
only one way TO do this and that is {
r beginning with the main roads 9
aiding into Rock Island and Moline. {