Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1918-07-18
WISCONSIN GREAT WHITE WAYS
The State Trunk Highway System
Marked.

Marked.
Practically everyone has noticed the
white bands appearing all over the
state on telephone poles, and the black
triangle outline containing the words
Estate Trunk Highway" with a number
and the word wis" at the bottom of
the triangle.
This is the visual evidence that
road or street is on the Trunk Highway
System. Each trunk highway has a
different number and the marking is to
enable the traveller to pick up number
and easily follow the especial state
trunk highway or highways which
takes him to his destination.
The State Trunk Highway System
comprises 5000 miles of road. Stretch
es of varying length are maintained by
patrolman, there being nearly 500 of
tanning the system. Each county is re-
sponsible for the maintenance of the
system within it's limits; but the cost Of
this maintenance, up to certain
amount per mile, is repaid the county
by the state out Of the proceeds of
automobile license fees.
Already the system of main roads of
Wisconsin is much improved by this
maintenance and as the patrolmen gain
b01 10 or1i1 afi re
in working order the results are bound
to be wonderfully marked.
The Wisconsin Highway commission
will be glad to be notified Of any
markings so indefinite that the system
cannot be followed, (Which is especial
ly apt to occur in cities and villages)
of any inattention to duty on the part
of the patrolmen, or of any stretches of
the state system not now adequately
maintained.
The commission states that the only
way in which the ultimate results can
be secured from this maintenance is
through the cooperation of the general
travelling public. Constructive criti
cism is welcomed. as with all the com
missions efforts it cannot keep con
stantly in touch with every patrolman,
or see every stretch of road often
enough to prevent all blunders.
For the convenience of the travelling
public the legislature provided that a
map Of the Trunk Highway System
should be published showing the same
numbers on the various roads that are
displayed on the telephone poles along
them. With this map anyone desiring
to get between any two points in Wis
consin can readily select his route and
readily follow it on the road itself.
These maps may be had from local
stationers or will be sent by superin
tendent of Puplic Property, Madison,
Wisconsin, on receipt of ten cents.
Stamps not accepted.
The Wisconsin Highway commission
feels that quite satisfactory start has
been made on what is going to prove to
| be the most revolutionary advance in
highway maintenance ever made in
this or any other state, but that to Sc
cure the supreme result the general
public should be better informed Of
what the commission is attempting to
do and give to it and to the country
organizations, which are loyalty coop
Grating, better information as to abuses
which readily may occur in the con-
duct of patrolmen, their lack of atten-
ton to work, or the lack of intense
work on certain pieces Of road which
are still real impediments to travel.
Each citizen can help by pointing out
to the commission present shortcom
ings much more than he can by simply
bearing them.