The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1918-05-03
IS
To DRAW
THE PLANS
Lincoln Highway a Federal Road
To Be Improved for
Twelve Miles.
ESPECIAL To ATHE T1MEs.1
CROWN POINT, IND, Nav

NNO w ~ fOAN /, 1ND., may s.
The county council in session at
Crown Point yesterday appropriat-
ed $300,000 for the improvement
of the Lincoln Highway, from
Schererville east to the county line.
This means a stretch of road about
twelve miles long.
State Engineer Moore was be-
fore the council and explained the
plan by which the state will aid
and supervise this improvement.
1t seems that Indiana's apportion-
ment of federal money for the next
two years. '18 and '18 and '19, will
amount to approximately $4,000
and it is proposed to put this $751;
600 with the 100000 appropria-
ton and the total amount, $375, 900
will be used on this twelve miles
of road.
Basing his statement upon contracts
recently let in other PARTS of the state.
Mr.. Moore said that the cost Of the road
per mile would depend upon the type
of construction used and that the figures
would run approximately as follows:
concrete, S2S,000 per mile; asphaltic con
crete, $4,000 per mile: and brick on
concrete base. s38.0oO per mile; and that
the state would insist upon one of these
three types.
WHAT PROCEDURE WILL BE.
The procedure in the construction OF
the road will be as follows: first, plans
and specifications will be prepared by
the engineer of the state highway de-
partment; the county commissioners
will advertise for bids but the contract
Will be awarded in the name of the
state; then the highway commission
takes charge and superintends the con
struction. placing their own men as in
spectors; the state will pay all bills
then when the road is completed the
state will bill Lake county for its part
of the expense. After the road is com
pleted. the state will take entire charge
! of repair and maintenance. paying all
bills In other words. under the plan
by which the state builds the road it
guarantees upkeep for the life Of the
/ impro cement
Low COST OF MAINTENANCE.
Mr. Moore said that the state depart
nlent figured on a maintenance expense
Of about $50 to SIS a mile per year
while the records of Lake county show
1 ed that some Of our roads had cost the
townships as high as $1,000 per mile
per year
Representatives Of Gary. East Chi
cago and Indiana Harbor were before
the council and all entered informally
| into the discussion. After hearing Mr.
More's talk. these representatives with
drew to a separate room and went over
the proposition privately. There was
not dissenting voice. however, when
the vote for approval was taken.
NEVER PHAsED THE COUNCIL.
One of the most amusing things at
the meeting was the circulation of a
! little slip opposing the road supposed
to be an editorial from the Gary Trib-
une. newspaper edition that had not
been printed. It was absolutely ignored
as far as being officially noted by the
county officials.
with the help of the state the county
| will be expected TO build good roads un-
der state supervision for the next four
which federal appropriation has been
made.
In connection with this matter of road
\ building the Indiana Organizations
Highway Committee with headquarters
at Indianapolis will mold meeting in
the near future TO take up the following
subjects for consideration:
l. support for the State Highway
! Commission
2 Enactment Of a road maintenance
department.
/ g. Enactment to authorize the most
! thickly populated counties to build at
! least a part. if not all of their roads.
under a county tax unit system instead
Of township unit system as at present.
! f. Auto theft legislation
! 5. Enactment TO authorize road Off
+. ciaIs to cut weeds along roadsides. espe-
\ cially at curves. Ievees. ridge approaches
/ and any other dangerous spots, and TO
charge them with responsibility for this
! work.
| An effort Will be made to call meet
I ing Of this state wide committee the
/ last Of this month at indianapolis.
official washington has changed its
ha form Of