The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1919-07-09
why OPPOSE
= BETTER ROADS?
Only Hope for Better Roads is In the
Application Of Our Highway Law
Passed by Legislature ~
FEDERAL AND STATE TO HELP

|
Federal and State to Pay rs Per Cent
for Hard Surfacing, Leaving but
rs Per Cent for Property Owners
CBy H. B. Fishel, County Engineer)
One hundred per cent of the popula-
ton of this county favors good roads.
A very large majority is in favor of
}better roads. u.
The rapid increase in volume and
weight of traffic during the last two
years, and the resulting destruction of
main roads, furnishes sufficient proof
that good or better roads can not be
expected SO long as dirt is used for
surfacing where traffic is so heavy.
People realize the hopelessness Of the
present situation and are willing to
pay the cost of maintenance, but labor
I is very scarce and uncertain and rains
very often undo completely all work
of that nature such as dragging and
grading. TL, u
What can we do? What shall we
do? " .l
We are not inclined to object to the
fair cost of road improvement. The
big problem is the fair and equitable
distribution of that fair cost.
Our only hope is in the application
the procedure for all road work. Not
until April 10, 1919, did we have a
law which provided good remedy for
the ills of our dirt roads which, when
the water drips and pelts, simply melt
like sugar in cup of tea." Our last
law provides for the hard surfacing
of the primary road system OF about
5 per cent of our roads, which will
care for so per cent of all our traffic,
and 1t distributes the cost quite fairly
and equitably, and, at the same time,
it does not rob the county or township
roads in so doing. 1t also provides
for the surfacing Of the last named
roads.
In hard surfacing a primary road,
federal and state funds pay Is per
cent and the remaining 25 per cent
is assessed to the specially benefited
property along the road. In paying
for one-fourth the cost of hard surfac-
ing only (no grading) the property for
one and one-half miles, on either side
fof athe road SO improved Is assessed
'in a graduated scale Of benefits
|Sec. 14''' IAN amount not to exceed, in
the aggregate, 4 per cent of the fair
market value thereof though embrac-
ed within one or more road assess
ment tlistricts-Sec. 49,, Three square
miles-1920. acres Of land-is assessed
for a fourth the cost Of hard surfac-
ing one mile Of road. The assessment
against tract of land within the mile
and a half limit may be paid in cash
or in ten installments with per cent
interest. &@
The earth work built in advance on
most of our primary road system has
been paid by tax against property in
this county. When the combined cost
of earth work and surfacing on pri-
mary roads is considered, you will
note that the combined cost of the two
lis distributed over the whole United
States, the state of Iowa, this county
and the specially benefited property
along the road. That is a good at
tempt to distribute fairly and equit-
ably the cost of such work. w..
i, Section 3s provides that Primary
roads, after the hard ?surfacing OF the
same, shall be maintained under said
patrol system wholly out Of the coun-
tvs allotment. Of the primary road
fund.- ~ =. - Y q '.i&.stn
q The cost .of general maintenance Of
the county road system has Increased
rapidly, during the last three years.
This is due to the fact that the i'm
Iprovement of main roads has resulted
in a greater concentration of traffic
than before, and also to the fact that
there has, In sthe meantime, been d
great increase in the total volume and
weight of traffic on the highways. Dur
ing the last winter and spring, every
time the earth road surface softened
as the result OF rains, those roads were