Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1918-07-19
STATE ROADS
NOW MARKED
Wisconsin Highways Will Be
Much Improved Under
Patrol System

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 num-
Der and the Word wis" at the bot
tom of the triangle.
This is the visual evidence that a
road or street is on the state trunk
highway system. Each trunk highway
has different number and the mark
ing is to enable the traveller to pick up
a number and easily follow the es-
pecial state trunk highway or high
ways which takes him to his destina-
ton.
The state trunk highway system
comprises 5000 miles of road Stretches,
of varying length are maintained by a
patrolman, there being nearly 500. OF
these patrolmen now working in main
tanning the system. Each county is
responsible 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 experience and the whole Organl-
zation gets into working order the re-
suits are bound to be wonderfully
marked.
The Wisconsin Highway Commission
will be glad to be notified of any mark.
ings so indefinite that the system can
not be followed, (Which is especially
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 two points in WiscOn-
sin 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 the Super
intendent of Public Property, Madison,
Wisconsin, on receipt Of ten cents.
| Stamps not accepted.
The Wisconsin Highway Commits
sion feels that a 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 secure the supreme result the
general public should be better in
formed of what the commission is at
tempting to do and give to it and to the
county organizations, which are loyal
ly cooperating, better information as
to abuses which readily may occur in
the conduct of patrolmen, their lack
of attention to work, or the lack of in
tense work on certain pieces of road
which are still real impediments to
travel. Each citizen can help by
pointing out to the commission pres
ent shortcomings much more than he
can by simply bearing them.