The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-08-05
Illinois viii Put In 5000 Miles at
Cost OF Over 100000
According to
Plans.
ARE APPROVED AT POLLS
License Fees From Autos VIII Furn.
ish Portion Of Amounts Under
This New Arrange
ment

building in the history of the worl'
1t comprises 5000 miles Of vas
trunk line system, connecting all c
the important cities, and the cost wi
be $60,000,0O0. Not cent Of it will b
borne by public taxation. The ii
license tags at the front and rear c
every motor vehicle, tell the story c
the financing. There are now 10000
automobiles and trucks in Illinois. TIL
license fees will produce about $1,000
600 per annum. In 20 years, it will b
sufficient to pay off the principal an
interest of the bond issue OF $50, 900
600, which guarantees the payment TO
construction.
Plan Attracts Attention.
The Illinois plan, first suggested ;
year ago, and which was approved b.
the voters at the polls November
last, a majority of 5000 being giver
the proposition, has attracted nation
wide attention, and similar movements
have already been launched in Arkan
sas, Missouri, Georgia and Other
states, with likelihood of favorable az
ton.
In years gone by Illinois expended
about $7,000,000 per annum for road
1890 township highway commits
sioners. Most of the work performed
one year had to be done over again
the succeeding, as it was purely TEN
porary in character. The same old
mud holes received these millions, and
the public waste became the subject
Of campaign of reform launched by
the good roads and motor vehicles
associations. The advent OF the auto
mobile brought a new understanding
of highway problems. 1t was realized
that the city man, driving his car for
pleasure or on business through a
rural community, should be made to
pay a part of the expense of main.
tanning the roads traversed It was
argued that it was unfair to saddle all
Of the expense upon the township.
Patchwork Roads Before.
Illinois boasts Of $4,000 miles OF
highway. Seven years ago, 5000
miles Of the most important were set
aside for improvement by cooperation
between the state and county. The
legislature agreed to pay one-half of
the cost OF building hard roads and
also permanently maintain them
after construction. This was the first
movement in behalf Of good roads but
there were disadvantages through lack
Of uniformity and coordination, and
1t was found that there could be no
stretches Of trunk lines across the
state, but simply patchwork system
of good and bad roads. A tourist who
found stretch Of good roads in one
county was apt to find that it con-
nected with bottomless mud hole In
the adjoining.
In this crisis the proposal was made
that higher unit be established under
state control, that it be constructed
by a state bond issue, and that the
routes be selected by the legislature.
Gov. Frank o. Lowden opposed a bond
issue which would require additional
taxation A compromise was then eff
fected by which the license fee for
motor cars was increased sufficient to
take care OF the bond issue. The own
ers Of automobiles and trucks ap-
proved the idea and there has been
no opposition.
Bond Issue Popular.
The campaign in behalf of the bond
issue was supported not only by the
motorists, but by bankers, merchants,
farmers, workingmen, womens clubs
in fact, all interests. Now, one
year after the campaign was first
launched, tangible results are being
seen. There has been delay, due to
the scarcity of labor and the high price
and scarcity of materials With the
return OF the soldiers, the former
handicap has been alleviated, and the
work is actually under way. Illinois
Will soon enjoy the unique distinction
OF complete highway commission,
with the state building, and control
ling the main roads, the counties and
townships controlling the feeders or
laterals. The cost is borne bv all OF
the people, those Of the city as well as
those Of the country, but only by peo.
pie who own motor vehicles. The
state realizes that the city and the
country are interdependent. and that
each contributes to the well-being and
prosperity of the other. The social.
educational and healrhful advantages
of good roads are so apparent that this
point requires no exploitation or dis.
cussion. Their economic worth is a
thing that Illinois has just learned
Amortization Plan Safe.
Financiers assert that the amorti.
cation plan by which the bonds and
the interest are to be liquidated is
absolutely safe. What Illinois has
done other states can do, with, of
course, varying notifications to con.
form to local conditions, and to meet
local requirements. The Illinois plan
bids fair to become universal as it's
merits are realized. The distinctive
feature is the scheme by which the
motor license fees take care of the
principal and interest. This year
cars of 10-horse-power or less pay
license fee OF $3.50 Next year and
thereafter it will be Sc. Cars OF
horse-nower between 10 and % now
pay Sc. Next year the fee win be