Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-12-31
COUNTY. DESIRE
FOR IMPRovEl
ROADS CROWN
Year Short in Results .Otherv|
But We Hope To Be On Chlca}
Highway Before 81.

Rock Island county did not
complish a great deal in the wa
highway improvement during 4
but it made some progress. ma
in the form of a determination
have more of It. There was I'd
discussion of routes for the
posed hard roads built with o
funds and the convictions d
that it will be good business
the county to take matters into
own hands and do little worl
its own hook, state cid or no 8
aid.
There is reason to hope that
coming year will see the al
cities connected for the first
with system of permanent ro
In 1919 the route east thro
Henry county was laid out by
state highway department and
traN.s are expected to be let in
spring for a road from 81
across the Colona bridge. third
Geneseo, Sheffield and Princetd
DePue. connecting there with
federal aid road now under
tract and giving a permanent b
way all the way to Chicago.
pletion of this improvement. a
E. Surman. district highway
neer points out, depends emit
upon whether, contractors cal
found to absorb the work.
much highway construction is
templated that there are SCI
doubts whether labor, equip
and materials will be availab
finish 1t all. 'ASi
There is a possibility. also,
the route through the upper el
the county to connect with the
coin highway at Morrison ma
established and contracts
though it is not likely that thi
dertaking will get farther tina
laying out of the route.
Start at West Ead.
Surveys for the route to
have been practically finishes
work will begin at the west 81
may be necessary. Mr.. Su
states, to vary the route a lit>
the necessary right of way is
forthcoming. The state. will
pay for right Of way. That
be provided by counties, towns
or private owners. ia
The greatest gain 1.-THE
road cause in the county In
last year has arisen through
cussion of routes. Organizat
have been formed in both end
the county and campaigns cond
ed on behalf Of particular \
both northeast and south. In
upper end the Mississippi n
following the banks of the str
is strongly championed by one
ganization and the Rock river
ley route by another. In the L
end there is movement Tor
route south of Milan into ~
county. another for the presen
ange and white trail via II
Ridge. Reynolds, Hamlet and a
and a third via Turkey hollow
Edgington and south to Aledo.
vocates of the last named sec
the endorsement of the boar
supervisors and effected an ALI
with the Rock river valley CT
pions in the upper and of the G
ty for mutual advantage. Il
out of a route south to Aled
expected to be taken up ono
during the coming season.
Talk Bond Issue.
Since it is evident that the
ceeds of the $60,000,000 state
issue will give Rock Island CO
only a fraction of the mileaa
trunk roads that it stands in
need of there has been some dia
sion of a county bond issue
ry on the work on an ad
basis.
No hard roads were built I'd
comfy this wear. The only
aid work done was the gradfn
the stretch from Milan sout
the camp grounds, distance
little less than four miles
approximate cost of $3.000
This is the first undertaki1
kind in the county and II ~
the reduction of grades and u
lation of concrete culyefts all q
the route. vi -
There was. of course. the
mary construction of email
by joint township and county
the aggregate expenditure y