Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1917-06-24
IIH-T STEP TAKEN TOW ARD
LAYING OIT MI 90 COtN.
~ STAT HIGHWAYS.
NEW MEASURE IS POPULAR
State selects and De~ignatcs Pieces
~ Road ~ 80 Constructed
Each Year Under It,
Direction.

o. Eas passed Boz the senate by
vote o. 30 10 ard in the assembly
by 73 10 -. This aiil 81 in no way
substitute Tor the present state
aid highway Law b. Is an entirely
present Inv This bin constitutes q
new unit aud is distinctly step
forward In highway legislation in
Wisconsin The new unit will boz the
state FOR under the terms OF this
law the state will iay out construct
ard maintain O state system Of trunk
line roads
The bill. In hriof provides that
The state highway commission shall
lay nut not 10 exceed 5000 miles 10
iuierconnect every county seat In
the safe. I'm laying ON this system.
the commission must have hearings
in the different localities. and ID any
disagreement comes from their deci-
aions, an appeal may be- made TO a
legislative committee composed OF
three assemblymen and two SEN
stors. whose decision IN tho matter
shall be- final n b. expected that
he highway commission will. a. an
early date. begin the hearings
throughout the state preliminary 20
laying out the trunk system n viii
fBbe the balance of the year 10 com
pletc this section The construction.
loo "a general way will not begin I'M
40 NEXT year. although a few indi-
.ldual pieces of more importance
may be constructed during ma.
state Directs Work.
Under this new law. the state not
only selects the system. but zach
year n dcsignates the pieces of roads
that are to bc built boz the several
counties.
u also gives tho state power 10
iihhold further .unds from
county that does not properly main
tain the entire irunk.line mileage IN
lts county This forcing the main
ienanca ~ me gstcm WIN assure
fair ROAD Immediately Ia an section,
af the UfTe.
Under inc terms Of the bIll. The
federal government will pay ono
third tho cost Of the highways the
ri1'o government Dlo.third and Tho
county government ona-third Uu-
der the bin The county NAV assess
town up io onc.half tho couuty's
share ol the building NJ the portion
of Tho state trunk highway system Boo
said town provided that no town
.hg'l ho assessed over 900 per
mile
Tho state and federal funds are
divided among the ount.eF in e
manner very similar 10 that IN
which me federal funds are divided
among the states One-third is d.
vidod in proportion ~ road mileage
loo the county. one third 90 area ~
'ho county. and the remaining one
third fn the assessed valuation uf the
county Under tho present stato-aid
law tho money is divided on the
basis of assessed valuation alone.
This riyes 'ho richer couutier q much
larr.r proportion than they will rn-
ceiyr under the nov trunk line bin
Ry tha new hill. the agricultural
counties. with a large area and large
mileage. will receive much larger
portion with federal aid than they
did with state aid money.
Wisc0nsin's share % the federal
money viii amount % l.2.tl1.
Under this new Law. the state must
Furnish an equal amount. which %
will do bv increasing the auto o.
ccuse fees 20 $40 per car By Tho
...... f....... -. ,.sbt.h u "a ~ .F fhu
Bin One-uuarter 81 the license
money is returned to the county
from witch the car T. registered
From The remaining three-quarters
Their. is appropriated for the use OF
the state highway commission tho
sum necessary 90 dotray the cost OF
administration Of This nov law.
From tho remainder 81 the three
guarrrs there Is 10 be- set aside
enough to pay the states onc-third
share %. the cost 81 construction un-
der tho Iodaal aid law After these
three mounts have been deducted.
tho remainder shall be- allotted hr
The state highway commission 90
Do several counties Tor the main
feulu.n ~ The state trunk highway
system lViur within said counties
Zach county shall be- entitled 10 re-
Give fHe proportion OF the remain
ma mount that the mileage ~ state
trunk highway system lying In said
rountt i0 me total mileage % tho
.fsf. trunk highway system lying in
40 of 'hr counties.
Law Helps County.
Thus tho Law not only prOt ides
for tho ris 20 meet the states
hare dat also a suitable sun 20 help
the county .n maintaining the entire
system On before new construction
has taken place THIS maintenance
will ho done under the states direc-
zion .y the present county organiza-
ton
Tho bin further authorizes Tho
state fo erect q standard design ri
road markers on the entire run
vs,eu. number each road and issue
e map 1i ihc system.
The trunk lire hBl merely marks
ne first step and the laying out 81
I ne plans
That The financial outlay unie'
F.. fae provisions of The BIN BE- small d
Indicated by the fact that under m
terms In a thrne-year period q liffi'
over $500 900 viii be spent whil'
under the present state-aid lhV Wis
fnusin e. spending about i.''' 800