Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1916-07-28

question Is to put surface on tno
roads that will make them passabls
every day in the year.
Our State Geological Survey reports
gravel deposits in 70 counties in the
state of Iowa. There are in the av'
srage county in Iowa 100 miles in the
county highway system. These coun.
ty highways will very largely serve
all the residents of the county and
are all and more than could be reason.
ably expected to be graveled at this
time unless certain districts wish to
get together and gravel other roads.
Greene county's Example.
Greene County has more graveled
roads than any other county in the
state. They are one of the more for.
tunate counties in having gravel ao'
cessibie. They find their average cost
for crawling their roads $140O per
mile, on the basis OF one half the
roads having one course Of gravel and
the other half of the roads having
two courses. They paid into their
road fund last year $36,s47. Averag.
ing $1,10O per mile for grading to
permanent grade, which has been their
experience, they have total cost Of
1880 per mile for permanently grad.
ed graveled road. They have 1S1
miles of county highway and on the
basis of present revenue county
similarly situated could by borrow.
Ing the money at ~ interest with.
out increased revenue grade ana
gravel all the county system and pay
of all the bonds In % years.
This is allowing 500 per mile each
year for maintenance, which will give
them as good If not . little better
road at the end OF the % years -
they have when first completed.
Clay County.
Clay County roads need but little
grading and gravel is plentiful. En-
gineers estimate the expense OF grad.
ing and graveling their county road
system at 100000 per mile or $780,.
900 for their 40 miles. On present
valuation their road tax raises $4,000
and their portion Of automobile tax
brings their total fund to 100000. Their
road maintenance the past three
years has averaged $4,000 per year. II
three years, they will raise 3120, 100000
and allowing 100000 for mainten'
ance have 100000 to apply on their
total expenses Of $4,000 leaving them
in debt after the grading and gravel
ing of their 40 miles is done $3.50.
OOO. 90. Allowing 500 per mile per
year for maintenance on the 40
miles or $4,000, which deducted from
the income of $4,000 will leave $751;
600 to apply to the bonds. The en-
tire debt and all interest would b
DISCHARGED in nine years.
Duena Vista County.
Buena Vista County has 1877 miles
of county road. To completely grade.
drain and gravel every mile Of this
county road, will cost $S15,o0o. II Il
Is done in three years, one-third each
in 191e-1S17 and 1918, they will on the
basis Of present revenue after allow
Ing $4,000 for dragging, $4,000 for
draining, $4,000 for repairs and after
paying all interest, at the end Of 1919
when the work is all done be obliged
to borrow s220,oOO to pay what was
not paid out of income. Considering
their income will remain the same ~
at present and setting aside $4,000
per year for maintenance, they can
pay all interest and principal at the
end OF the seventh year. They can
travel the graveled roads all the time
they are building and paying for them
and then have them forever for main
tenance alone with no increase II
their taxes in the meantime. Docs
that not look like good business?
Buena Vista has 3i2 temporary
bridges in the county. 1t will cost
them $4,000 to replace them with
permanent structures. If these bridges
are built while they are building
their roads, they will have 100000
to apply from their bridge fund leav.
ing $15O,OOO to pay. II they borrow
this, the entire debt and interest can
be paid from their present bridge
fund in u years after they are finish
ed and they cut out repairs not only
for the IL years but for the future.
Can YOU find any burden in this anD
does 1t not appeal to you ~ sooo
business?
Tama County.
Tama County is a county not -
fortunately situated. They estimate
their grading at an average Of @lS0S
per mile for 210 miles IN their coun'
ty system, or = tot1l of s27s.ooo TO,
grading. They estimate graveling II
| cost $500 per mile or S645.000, a total
of 100000. In fama County. valus
lions have increased 80 per year to-
the past twenty years and their couH
ty engineer in making up his estk
| mates has allowed the same rate OF
| increase In values for the next TWEEN
ty years. He has also allowed
twenty per cent increase IN automo
| bile money for the next hve years.