The diamond drill., 1918-04-13
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Mr.. Conlin, Editor
The Diamond Drill,
Crystal Falls, Michigan.
Dear Sir: We nave read your re-
cent editorial entitled Those Town
ship Roads" with considerable, but
somewhat pained. interest. We have
been going along here for several
years acting under the delusion that
we were throwing the weight OF our
influence towards more return for
the money expended upon township
roads"
We do agree with you, Tom, that IF
only half mile OF road is built year
Il should be good half mile, regular
ly surveyed, graded, and drained
Something over a year ago the Tax
payers Association undertook TO place
itself on recordswith a little construct
| i've criticism OF the present township
road methods and spent a piece of its
own good money in the publication Of
little booklet entitled, More Good
Roads for Iron County" or course
we expected no revolution in the
methods OF road building. But the
pamphlet was distributed at our ex-
pense principally among farmers of
| the various townships, who should be
particularly interested in good roads,
We entered into no generalities but
| thought we showed by figures that the
residents Of the county should receive
greater value in roads for the money
expended IL somewhat different meth
ods were used. Then We incorporated
into the booklet a compilation of var
ious features Of road building which
had proved successful and economical
I'm other territories. Any one OF that
vast majority OF residents, who, ac-
cording to your editorial, Will support
the good roads movement. may have a
copy OF same by making known his
desires. and may we be protected from
the rush.
Seriously, the residents OF the var
ious townships will have good value
for road moneys expended only when
they, themselves. demand efficiency IN
road building Why not ask the group
OF farmers i'm these townships TO go on
record as organizations in favor OF
better road building methods2 IL Is
not reasonable TO demand that this as
sociation undertake police duties in
seeing that the township road moneys
shall be expended according to law,
nor do we care 10 assume this respon-
sibility il there is any other way out.
We note that the state highway de-
partment is now demanding a state
ment from each commissioner showing
the amount OF money expended upon
the different roads by name. This in-
formation should be available to every
resident The writer Is not informed
OF any place where lateral roads in
mining locations have been built with
township money within recent years.
even though such laterals might serve
quite a number OF residents. We do
not think the amount OF road money
spent upon the "main arteries" thru
or ot these locations has been out Of
proportion 20 that spent upon other
main township roads.
II is 10 the interest Of the members
OF the Iron County Taxpayers Assa-
citation 10 see a large deyelopmenL in
the agricultural population Of The
county and 10 favors the efficient and
busuess-like upbuilding Of rural
roads but it sure dislikes % see the
large majority Of The residents of the
county cheated Of the benefits which
would undoubtedly coine TO them 4.
they would seriously consider the
matter, plan the work 20 be done over
period OF years, build each year such
part of the roads as finances permit,
according Go this general plan by con
tracing the work 10 the lowest re-
sponaible bidder according 20 definite
specifications, then see that the rights
OF the municipality under the contract