The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1916-02-08
Need New Roads.

Need New Roads.
During the past eight years Wis
consin has spent approximately s32-,
500,000 upon her highways. according
to statement made here by
Chairman John Hazelwood of the high
way commission before the annual
road school of county road commits
sioners. Nearly 200 road men are
here for the conference.
Wisconsin has made a splendid
showing in road betterment during
the past eight years. said Mr.. Hazel
wood. -Four years under the county
aid policy resulted in the expenditure
ties. In 81 counties there were no
permanent roads built under the
county aid policy from 1906 to 1912,
because the county boards refused to
act under the law. The legislature,
in 1911, determined upon the state aid
policy, which is now in force. In the
year 1912, 449 miles of road, 757 cul-
verts, and $50 bridges in 65 counties
were built, at total cost of nearly
S1,50G,000. During the last year, 1880
miles Of road, $500 culyerts, and 673
bridges were constructed at a cost of
S4,50O,0OO. In the aggregate, 4,OOO
miles of road, 5000 culverts and 2,200
bridges have been built during the
past four years. There was expended,
Independent of state supervision, un-
der the workout, beer-gang, picnic
policy of road building, nearly $780,
900, 600"
Mr.. Hardwood urged that counties
proceed with road building even at
a faster clip than in the past, even if
it meant the borrowing of money to
do it. Wisconsin has $4,000 miles of
county roads. Of this number only
$4,000 are now improved with some
form of hard surfacing.
Wisconsin has accomplished some
road betterment during the past few
years under the policy of pay-as-you-
CO." he said THE time has come,
however, when thinking men are sat
isfed that the people in Wisconsin
ought to wake up to the Importance
of the problem, and speed up its
progress through securing funds by
the exercise of its credit. 1t is evil
dent to one who is a student of the
public opinion relative to road better
ment that the people are ready TO
make another great stride in pubic ex-
penditures for road work more remark
able and more striking than the stride
made under the state aid policy. There
is a feeling of unrest because there
has been such slow progress in i'm
proving the main lines or trunk roads
of the state.
Financing a road is apparently a
simple problem, if we keep in mind
that it is an investment which ought
to be paid for by the people it bene-
fits and in accordance with the bene
| fits which they receive from it. 1t is
| not justice to burden unduly the pres
ent taxpayers for assets for future
citizens. 1t is not right to build a
| bridge that will last hundred years
and make all coming taxpayers a
Christmas present of same. If these
| things are done, there is an injustice
| imposed. 1t is important that Wis
| consin rapidly resort to a more lib
eral use of it's credit in the matter OF
| building up the highways Of the
state"
The geology of Wisconsin and its
road materials was the subject of an
| interesting talk by w. o. Hotchkiss
| state geologist. S. H. Woods, president
| of the Wisconsin Association of Coun.
| ty Clerks also spoke.
The powers and duties of the state
and county officials under the new
state aid law was taken up by A R.
Hirst, chief engineer. A debate on
| the subject of whether or not the con.
tract system is the best for perform
| ing state road construction will be
| the program at the meeting of the
school.