Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1919-06-18
FEDERAL ROAD Aid.
BY YcOUN1YOP1I0N
Up to the Voters to Decide If They
Want to Derive Benefits of New
Law
$s,0OO,OOO
Government Money 70. Sur
faced Roads Only Says Il
mission

Passage of the new federal aid
road law by the last session of the
genertl assembly will facilitate
road building in Iowa during the
coming season. in the opinion of
the state highway commission.
Except for the amendment re-
quiring counties to hold special ell
ections before proceeding with their
construction programs, it is believed
that several contracts would be un-
der way now the commission thinks.
Up to Counties.
In substance, members of the
highway commission pointed out re-
Gently, the question before the
counties is whether or not they in
tend to participate in the benefits of
a tax which is to be collected wheth-
er they use it or not. The federal
government has appropriated some
$3.50, 100000 to be used in the con-
struction of permanent and durable
highways in every state in the
union during, the five year period
ending 1921. of which Iowa's share
is approximately $S,00O,0OO.
The conditions under which this
federal money may be extended are
that the state match it dollar for
dollar with a similar fund, and pro-
vide for an adequate highway COM
mission to supervise road planning
throughout the state, and see that
the various counties do not work at
cross purposes.
Fund of SIC, 900, 900.
This. state has agreed to do, and
has added to the government APP
propriation another $S. 5000, 900 to be
collected in automobile license fees
making a total of some SIC, 900
in what is known as the primary
road fund, to be, used for the con-
struction Of a primary road system
recommended by the highway com
comission.
Now along comes the last Iegisla-
ture, according to members of the
commission and passes a law pro-
viding that before county may lei
contracts for the construction OF
permanent and durable hard SUR
faced roads, its board of supervis
ors must be duly authorized by the
voters of the county at a special
election to be called on petition oil
the voters; and after permission is
granted, abutting property ant
property within a definite benfitted
district is to be assessed 25 per cent
OF the cost the other rs per cent
to be paid from the primary roaG
fund.
For Hard Surfaced Roads Only.
However, the federal aid money
is available only for the construc
tion Of highways contemplated by
the postoffice appropriation meas
ure providing the fund, that is fo1
hard surfaced roads, or for Other
durable and permanent improve
ments. Graveled roads, the com
mission has ruled, are not perlna
nent improvements, and countie!
may not gravel their roads and pre-
sent the bill to the treasurer o
state.
| Inquiries are pouring into the of
/ flee of the commission, according t
j. w. Eichinger, secretary, as t.
the status OF counties holding spe
cial elections and voting agains
hard surfaced roads, and whethe
or not that county's allotment ma!
be used for other road work. Th'
ruling OF the commission thus fa
has been that the primary road fun'
may not be used for other improve
ments.
For Towns of 1000.
The primary road system 70
Iowa tentatively outlined by tn
commission and approved by tn
last Legislature, includes every tow
of 1000 or more population, and /
is estimated that 50 per cent of 'th
population of the state lives eithe
in the towns or along one of tn
roads of the system.
The road fund is distribute,
among the ninty-nine counties o
the state on a basis of area.
Charts showing assessment
against a model benefited distriC
on basis of $4,000 mile as
total cost, have been prepared b
the commission showing the cost t
the county of its quarter share 1
tho mn1nrf n Il inc which charts wi