The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-05-19
Will Await Full Information for vot-
ers from State Highway Depart
ment SO Intelligent Bal
lots May be Cast.
REVENUE IN NEXT YEAR
Supervisors Have Their Part All Pre-
pared and as Soon az Time
Comes VIII be Ready to
Act Promptly.

The Lee county board of super
visors has decided to await full In.
formation from the state highway
commission before taking steps to
call an election on the question OF
the county going under the new
state road law.
The state department is preparing
pamphlet covering all phases of the
new law and its operation, and with
this in hand, every voter will be in
position to cast his ballot intelligent
ly whatever position he takes on the
matter.
The revenue from the new law Is
not available until the spring Of
1920, anyhow, SO there is plenty Of
time. 1t is thought that the election
on whether to adopt the new state
road law will be held next fall. ready
for work to begin next spring, If the
vote is affirmative.
The Local Situation.
Each county must vote separately
whether to adopt the state road law
providing for the building of perma-
nent roads between the principal
towns and market places.
The Lee county supervisors have
decided upon the roads designated
for permanent building under the
state law, if the proposition is adopt
ed at the polls.
They are the Red Ball overlapping
Pershing Way routes from Main
street extension through Donnellsoa
to the Henry county line, and the
lake shore boulevard and extension
road through Montrose, Fort Madi-
son and Viewer to the Des Moines
county line.
Largest Counties Busy.
According to information at hand,
the largest counties and commune
ties are planning extensive road cam
paigns and special elections are to
become common is the prediction. In
most cases this will be for hard
roads and it is recognized that where
there are the larger cities the move
will go through easily.
Among the outstanding points in
the law with which it is urged voters
must become familiar before there is
much chance of passing the measure
are mentioned the following:
Motorists to Pay Most Of L.
Automobile money and federal aid
will pay three-fourths of the cost.
The other one-fourth will be paid by
assessments on districts extending
for a mile and half back from each
side Of the proposed paved road.
This assessment will be collected in
ten annual payments averaging from
S25 to SIS per year for quarter Sec
ton in the assessment district.
That the roads must be such as
meet the approval Of federal engi-
neers if federal aid money is to be
obtained.
County road taxes levied on city
property as well as farm lands will
be expended on improvement OF
have more money under this law
than they have had before. that is,
roads outside the primary road sys-
tenn.
Federal Aid Almost Enough.
The cost of paved roads can be ex-
tended over period of county bonds
and with this long time period to
pay for them the cost can be paid
entirely out of automobile fees and.
federal aid.
Roads other than inter-county
roads will not be neglected as they
will get more tax money than ever
before.
1t is recognized that one of the
biggest incentives for paving will be
the examples set by counties which
do pave and this example will very
probably be set by the counties hay
;po tho 1oroa rif{nc