Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1919-05-01
$4,000 FOR ROAD WORK
IN THIS COUNTY.

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nor Gardner on the 18th of April.
The first thing for the county to
do is to have the location Of the
highways decided upon by the state
department.; then the character OF
the road must be determined, wheth-
er it is to be earth. giacadam, or any
other kind of hard-surfaced road.
After that is done. the survey must
be made, together with the plans.
specifications and estimates OF cost.
The survey may be made by the State
Highway Department. but, il that Is
done, not mor than 500 per mile
will be deducted from the county's
share to pay the cost thereof. II the
county has a competent highway en-
| gineer, or can employ one, this work
may be done by him (subject to the
approval Of the State Highway De-
partment), and a considerable saw
ing will be made to the county.
After the survey and plans have
been made, and they have been ap-
| proved by the State and Federal au-
thorities, there will be allowed to the
| county the sum of $1,000 per average
mile for constructing the proposed
| highways. In case this amount is
| sufficient to pay the entire cost here
| of, no additional money is required
| OF the county. In case the character
| of the road requires more than the
expenditure of $1,000 per mile it
Will be- necessary for the county, po-
liticsl subdivision thereof or inter-
ested persons to raise one-half Of the
amount necessary, and match this
against that much money Of Federal
funds. That will give enough money
10 proceed with and complete the
construction Of any kind OF road
desired.
This $1,000 per mile may be used
in not only constructing roads. but
to pay the cost of any bridge on such
highways up to a clear span or ~
feet. In case of a bridge OF more
than a clear span of 20 feet, it will be
necessary for the local people to raise
one-half of the amount necessary to
build it to a proper standard and
this may be matched against a like
amount of Federal money and the
bridge constructed The reason that
all these plans must be approved by
the Federal Bureau of Public Roads
Is the fact that the Federal Govern
ment is putting up one-half of the
cost, and it very properly requires
that the roads and bridges, in which
it participates, shall be built &C
cording to proper standards.
) The law will permit the construc
. ton of any character Of road that !!
desirable and suitable to the needs
of the community which it serves /
: does not bind the counties to an!
hard and fast rules in this regard, a
the old law does. The only require
ment that is made is that the roat
shall be built according to propei
!, standards. In case any county hai
a surplus after it has constructed 1t
: share of state roads, this surplus ma!
be used in building other roads o
like standards. provided they cOnnec
up with the state roads. Each coun
ty court must levy the 25 cent spec
ial road and bridge tax, as provide
in the constitution, in order to tax
advantage of the law and participat
in the division of the funds.
The purpose of the law is to bull
regulate the bowels is all that ]
a genuine statewide system of goo
roads, and to lay the foundation TO
such a hard surfaced system. A
amendment will be submitted at tn
o next general election to be voted VI
on to determine whether or not tn
. people of the state desire a hard SUI
faced system which will give to tn
state a system Of roads which ma
be used every day in the year. IN
der the terms of this amendment 81,
ty million dollars will be provided I
accomplish this purpose and it shout
carry. This would hard surface e'
cry state road built under the term
lie of the McCullough-Morgan law, an
20 the foundation for it will have a
ready been laid and paid for.
Much has been said in criticism
- the McCullough-Morgan bill. TIL
new law was designated to proyid
for an equal distribution Of the roa
moneys. 1t was also designated
be adaptable to every section Of Ii
state and these purposes, it seem
= were accomplished. Under 1t al
q county may build real roads to CO.
! meet with similar roads in all su
rounding counties. 1t plays fair vii
D. each county and seeks to constru
q genuine statewide system, \
county will have less than 5000
= as its share for constructing road
., Surely this Is worth striving for, al
surely there is not q county in Il
:. state that will willingly let this gre
,os opportunity slip by for obtainil
al some real roads to be connected