Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-05-07
CHICAGO-ST. LOUIS ROAD
WILL BE BUILT
THIS YEAR
COST $4,000 MILE.
STATE Department OF PUBLIC
WORK ANNOUNCES CONSTRUC.
TON WILL BE COMPLETED
THIS YEAR ON CHlCAGO-ST.
LOUIS ROAD.

The administration plan for start
ing things humming on the Chicago
Joliet, Ottawa, La Sale, Peoria and
st. Louis federal highway attained
definite proportions yesterday at
Springfield when contracts were let
for building the road The dirt, it is
expected, will begin to fly as early as
possible, but as yet no definite time is
set for getting construction under
way.
The highway has been laid out
through La Sale County TO touch
Seneca, Marsetlles, Ottawa la Sale
and Peru. At Ottawa it crosses the
Illinois River bridge and skirts the
south bank of the illinois Rive
through Illinois most scenic and his.
toric spot-StarveG Rock State Park
The cos for La Sale County's share
o. the roadway is estimatei at IS a..
600, one-third of which is paid eacl
by the county, state and federal gov.
ernment
While contracts were being let for
the Chicago-St. Louis link, the state
department Of public works disposed
Of $40 miles OF goyernment-aid high
ways at an average price per mile Ot
S27 900. as against an estimate OF
$4,000 when the $50 0G0,000 bond
issue program was made. Besides the
road affecting Ottawa the Dixie high
way, Lincoln highway, Cumberland o.
national old trails and the Wisconsin
road from Niles to Chicago will BE-
built this year
The contracts We're .et with the ex
picit understanding that Goyerno,
I.owden stands for inflated prices only
because Of the tremendous demana
for road building and the necessity Of
employment Of labor.
Freight Rates a Factor.
Director Bennett issued a statemen,
on behalf of the administration say
ing
The cost Of the sections awardc1
averages about A. per cent highe"
than pre- war prices OF this increase
10 per cent consists OF increase OF
freight rates and an added thickness
of one-half inch additional concrete
tThe old specifications called fol
roads six incshes thick at the edge
and eight inches in the center. while
the present specifications are for
roads seven inches thick on the edge
and eight inches in the center, or an
average additional thickness Of one
half inch.)
"One-third of this 40 per cent in
crease consists of increased price o
cement The average price for the
whole country for cement at the mills
for 1914, as shown by the geological
survey division of the department Of
the interior, was 927 cents per barrel
Illinois prices were and are somewhat
below the average. The bids received
by the state for cement are $f.70 per
barrel. with further discount of 5
cents per barrel for prompt payment
which makes the increased price o.
cement about 70 per cent over the
1914 average price.
Get Small Reductiro.
When Governor Lowden started his
campaign for lower prices the base ce
ment price demanded was $1.S5 pei
barrel He succeeded in securing a
base price Of $3.50 per barrel with .
reduction from that price in case of di
rect purchase by the state of 10 cents
per barrel.
"The remaining two-thirds of the
increased cost is partly due to in
creased labor and equipment cost of
construction, and partly to increased
cost for stone and gravel-the latter
being slight
Old Roads Modernized.
"The roads to be moiernized are the