Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-09-08
POLK COUNTY SUPERVISORS
PLAN EXTENSIVE HIGHWAY
IMPROVEMENT.
BOOSTER CLUBS ASKED
TO AID IN PROJECT
Cost Estirnated at $1,000 Per Mile, or
$4,000 For Entirs Road System Of
county-compistion Of Work Would
Place County in Front Rank-Funds
Are Available.

SraVel every nile OL : OAh SouHIJ . 1oS
mile highway system at an approx
mate cost of 100000, putting the en-
tire system in condition unparalleled
by any system perhaps, in the middle
west, has been started by Harry Bar
quist chairman of the Polk county
board Of supervisors, 1t WAS announced
from that office yesterday.
Mr.. Barquist declares the county
roads can be put in condition, graveled
and sloped at cost Of about $1,000
per mile
The chairman will take the matter
up with the state highway commits
sion, the Des Moines Chamber OF Com
merce and the Greater Des Moines
comittee at once. He declares that the
county will not be forced to pay the
entire cost OF the proposition once it
is started.
Hyperion Road Model.
The grayeling of the county system
will put it in the same shape as the
Hyperion club road, conceded to be
one Of the most satisfactory in the
country.
Mr.. Barquist will meet with his
most serious obstacle in the highway
commission, it Is thought. The COM
MISSIONS rules and regulations pro-
vide that no road shall be graveleo
until it has been put into permanent
grade, that is, before it can be graveled
it must have had all hills graded
down and cuts and fills repaired to the
satisfaction Of a competent engineer.
The system is not in this shape but
Barquist has an argument which ne
will present to the commission in an
effort to obtain a suspension OF the
rules or to secure change in them.
ut will take years and hundreds OF
thousands Of dollars to put the POLK
county system in the shape required
by the commission, as I understand
that body's rules he said yesterday.
"However, we have the roads in such
condition now that we can gravel
them, and feel assured Of their lasting
for at least fifteen years. The cost
will be about $1,000 per mile If done In
accordance with my plans"
Funds Available.
He points out that the condition
into which the roads have been rend-
cred by the new grading machinery
will warrant the use Of gravel. Tho
fact that the machinery has proved
more than a fair road conditioner has
caused the Polk chairman to start his
gravel project, he said today.
There Is approximately $4,000 In
the county road fund at present. This
amount would be available In case the
crawling project were started. 1t is
In Connection with the cost that the
Polk chairman has another idea OF
his own.
when the Hyperion road was built"
he explained, 'xhe county paid about
81, 900 toward It's structure. The rest
of the money was contributed by the
club and from outside sources. The
farmers Of the county are eager In
practically all sections for the gravel
ing process. The county can contribute
its So, 900 and I'm sure the remainder
of the $4,000 or approximately that
amount, needed will be raised"
To Confer With Clubs.
Barquist will confer with the local
booster clubs perhaps this afternoon
or tomorrow. He will interview the
highway commission within few days
at Ames.
The first work that would be done
in case the plan is followed would be
on the River-to-River and the White
Pole roads, it is thought. The super
visor said that he would favor work.
ing first on these two highways.
II-st how the remainder Of the Polk
board stands is not known SO far as
any specific statement regarding 1t is
concerned. However, judging from
statements made by certain members
in times recently passed, he will be
supported almost unanimously. In
fact it is considered certain that Bar
quist has discussed the matter with
his fellow supervisors before deciding
to make public his dream Of 100 miles
of graveled county road in Polk.