Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1918-01-03

sin made great strides during the
year 1917. What State Highway
Engineer A. R. Hirst refers to as
1.-The most momentous step in the
history of highway legislation in Wis
consin," was the passage of the State
Trunk Highway Act. This was the
big, outstanding piece of highway leg
islation-an act which marks a new
era in highway improvement in the
state.
The next most important piece of
highway legislation was the new high
way bonding law. Other highway mea
sures were:
The amendment of the state aid law
permitting the use of state aid on city
streets under limited restrictions.
An amendment to the state aid law
providing that fifty per cent of state
aid money, together with the local
moneys accruing under the state aid
act shall be expended in construction
on the State Trunk Highway system,
An act fixing the width of runners
of draft sleighs sold after January
1919.
The Good Roads Association of
Wisconsin, which conducted a long
fight for the passage of the State
Trunk Highway Act will secure at an
congratulate itself at the opening of
the New Year over its accomplish
ments.
The State Trunk Highway Act is
designed to secure a State Highway
system. The State Aid Act under
which we have, and will continue to
act, was designed to secure local, or
county highway system. The State
Trunk Highway Act viii secure at an
early date, completely patrol main
tanned and road-marked State High
way system but the construction Of
the system will De gradual on account
Of the lack of sufficient funds.
Under the terms of this act, the
| Wisconsin Highway Commission has
already laid out a State Trunk High
way system of approximately 5000
miles, inter-connecting every county
seat and city of 5000 people, and in
ter-weaving the whole State by RIB
bons of road" At last, we have the
right plan for the development of a
system Of state roads.
The big feature of the bill is the
| one covering maintenance. Under
its terms, the State will, next year,
! begin the intensive patrol maintenance
of the entire 5000 miles-not only
the constructed portions but those
portions not as yet constructed.
State Highway Engineer A. R. Hirst
has worked out a thoroughly central
lied supervision Of the main-system-
atized and coordinated plan Of main
| tenance and detailed inspection and
checking Of the progress Of the work,
Patrolmen working under state
supervision and rigid state inspec-
ton, will be placed in charge Of sec
tions of the road, just as railroad sec
| ton men take charge Of sections Of
right and they will devote
| their whole time to the maintenance
of these sections. They will be pro-
vided with teams or motor trucks,
light road graders, road plane and
! full equipment. Their duties will be
TO drag the roads and keep the sur
face smooth and well crowned, to fill
holes, keep the drainage open, remove
distractions and not only repair spots
where the road has deteriorated, but
20 anticipate the deterioration of the
weak spots. This work will begin
next May, and will be a revolution in
| Wisconsin highway methods.
Patrol maintenance has been the
system in Europe for years, and now
is the vogue throughout the East. It
is based on the theory that to keep
road in condition, ga stitch in time
saves nine" 1t means that next year,
Wisconsin vii have 5000 miles of
state highways in fairly adequate
and serviceable condition to carry the
traffic.
The road marking is another
unique feature under the bill The