The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-02-27
PROPOSED NEW ROAD LAW.
CARRIER Sends US
Copy OF Bill as Drafted by the
Road Committee.

Representative FRANK "A. Val bel
has sent us a copy OF the draft OF
had been referred to the sub-com-
mittee, and who have been working
on it for a number of weeks. The
bill as prepared by the committee is
expected to be passed during the
present session, and makes provls-
without a bond issue. The draft OF
the bill is as follows:
The following is synopsis OF
sundry features Of the proposed bill
as it is.being worked out:
/. TO create system OF substan-
tial and durable highway improve
ments for each county, coordinate
government, secure the beneft OF
present and future federal aid acts
and pledge the state to meet same.
2. To divide the highways OF the
state into primary system and q
secondary system, the primary sys--
TEN embracing about six thousand
miles) to consist Of the main market
towns and cities and mail market
centers. being the intercounty sys-
tenn already designated under the
| federal aid act, and to which all fed
eral aid is expressly limited.
3. To provide for the grading and
draining of said primary system by
each county from funds derived
wholly from motor vehicles and fed
eral aid, and to provide for, the
hard-surfacing thereof, such hard
surfacing to be paid seventy-tive
per cent from the motor vehicles
and federal aid fund, and twenty-five
per cent from special assessments on
abutting and adjacent property with
in zones benefited.
4. TO create primary road fund
for the development of the primary
road system consisting. Of:
(a) Federal aid funds already
available.
(b) Federal funds hereafter APP
propriated.
Co Receipts from motor vehicles.
(d) Proceeds of special assess
This primary fund it is believed
will produce per annum from motor
vehicles and federal aid alone (and
not including special benefit assess
ments), about ,$S,O0O,00O, on present
registration of motor vehicles with
anticipated changes. This fund to be
devoted exclusively to pay for drain
ing, grading and hard-surfacing the
primary road system and to the re-
tirement of any bonds which may be
issued for such purposes, in case a
| county votes to anticipate such rev.
Guuo, ILLS pIll1dIS iOdu LULU " DC
apportioned to the various counties
that same as is done under the Iowa
Federal Aid law, namely according
to area.
1t is contemplated that the county
shall have three options:
(a) TO drain and grade all of the
primary road system before doing
any hard-surfacing
CD To hard-surface (always at
ter draining and grading) year by
year as the primary road fund be-
comes available.
Co Or. to anticipate its revenue
from the primary road fund for such
purpose by issuing bonds on a vote
of the people, such bonds tt be re-
the primary road fund and Gin case
of hardsurfacing) also from special
benefit assessments as stated above.
6. If the county desires to antic-
ipate its revenue from the primary
road fund for development of pri-
mary road system, it may vote to
the issuance of sufficient bonds to
complete same, but to be issued
from time to time as contracts on
sections of the roads are let and COM
pleted; or the county NAV make
tentative contracts for the develop
ment of such roads and submit to
such specific contracts and the issu--
ance of bonds to pay therefor, and
bonds in all cases to be retired from
proceeds of primary road fund in
Guiding Gin case of hard-surfaclng)
proceeds of special assessments pre-
viously mentioned. Power Of tax
levy by counties on all taxable prop
principal Of bonds issued for deVel-
opment of primary roads, to protect
negotiability thereof "a provided in
Illinois law, but said bonds in fact
to be paid from motor vehicles fund
and proceeds Of assessments as stat
ed.
I. Special assessments are to
help pay for hard-surfacing only and
shall not exceed twenty-five per cent
of total cost of the Improvement.
No real estate, though abutting on
or adjacent to more than one sec
ton or division of a primary road,
shall be assessed in all more than a
market value which it is believed will
not exceed four per cent for the
highest. In fixing assessments in
zones benefited, all elements such
as proximity. distance from market,
readiness of access and utility are to
be considered. and protection afford
ed where state boundary or river is
ly cut off by natural or artificial
barriers. Due consideration shall
be given to the fair market value per
acre of each of the different tracts of
land, their relative location and
productivity, and to their relative
proximity and accessibility to, the
said improvement.
8. To make provision also for de-
velopment of the secondary road
system. consisting of county roads
(outside the primary SYSTEM and
township roads, all existing levies
authorized for county road cash
fund, county drainage fund and
county road building fund to be de-
voted exclusively to the secondary
system; further provision also to be
made for more rapid development of
said system if desired by any county. |
9. Before, hard-surfacing; .pri- !
mary roads to be maintained from
county funds, except fifty per cent of
cost of maintenance land not ex-
ceeding fifty dollars per mile) may
be paid from primary road fund.
After hard-surfacing, to be main
tanned wholly from primary road
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