Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-01-29
800 MILES Of GOOD
ROADS ARE BEING
PLANNED THIS YEAR
ChiCAGO-ST. LOUIS ROUTE, PASS
ING THROUGH OTTAWA, AMONG
FIRST TO BE IMPRovED-TO
USE BRICK ON CONCRETE.
BY S. e. BRODT.
Superintendent of Illinois High
Ways.l

ways.)
From every part Of the state come,
the report that construction of tn,
Dohd issue system of roads shall be
gin In that vicinity The request /,
generally coupled with the statemen.
mat our community gave an almost
unanimous vote in favor Of the bono
issue This statement is accepted
because every county gave a popular
majority for the proposition.
1t would please the department i
This request could be carried out, bui
II Is Immediately apparent to all that
1t is not possible. The law provide,
that construction work, in so faI
as practically possible, shall be com
menced in the different sections OF
the state at approximately the same
time, In compliance with this, worn
VIII be started in many different parts
OF the state as soon as the money is
made available and cond ions are ia
vorable.
Roads Already Surveyed.
Surveys have already been made o.
the road from Chicago north to tn,
wisconsin state line, the Lincoln high
way from Chicago to Fulton, the Chi
cago-Springfield road via Joliet. OF
taWa, La Sale and Peoria, and the
Dixie highway from Chicago to Dan
vile. Surveys are in progress on The
Springfield-Eas -. Louis road. the
National Old Trails road from Easl
st. Louis to the Indiana line
These roads are all a part Of III,
bond issue system, but will be i'm
proved largely with federal state and
county funds. a large part Of Thu
money has been available since 1917
and it was expected that the construc
ton OF these roads would be carried
on in 1918, but war conditions pre-
vented.
For the reason that these survey
and plans are ready and a large par,
of the money avilable without waii
ing for the sale OF bonds, as Well a
for the further reason that thes
roads constitute some of the most i'm
portant state and federal highways /,
Illinois, we expect to start construo
ton upon them as soon as condition
are found satisfactory
Biaa to Open Soon.
In addition 10 the roads above
named reconnaissance surveys are
being made in many other importan
roads in the state which will be fol
lowed by field surveys, in preparation
for awarding contracts at apprOXi
mately the same time as the roads
previously named.
The division of highways expects e
be prepared to advertise for bids o.
from 500 to 500 miles of construction
on the bond issue system during III
early part of 1919.
Aside from the preparation Of plans
which are well under way there are
number of other preliminary matter
to be considered Among these is
decision upon the consttutonality 0
the law A bill will be filed at once
and it is hoped a final decision may
be had at either the April or June
term of the Supreme Court. Until thi
has been settled it is not likely any
bonds will be sold.
Bonds Also Offer Problem.
AnnthAr thing that l.;
the question of the money market
We all recognize the fact that it will
hardly be possible to sell 80 per cent
or per cent bonds in competition
with Az per cent government bonds
partially non-taxable To avoid the
necessity of placing these bonds on
the market under present unfavorablc
conditions we hope We shall be able
to make available through legislation
the funds from automobile license
fees now accommodating in the state
treasury.
Another matter confronting us is
the high cost of construction Suf
ficient time has not elapsed since The
close of the war to enable us to guage
properly the conditions which are TO
obtain during the coming season.
Many of the advocates of the bond
issue argued during the campaign
that we should approve the bond is
sue in order that we might be pre-.
pared to help solve the labor problem !
during the period of reimbursement |
The readjustment problem is now be |
fore us and We have no desire to |
avoid responsibility, yet it would seem |
to be the part of good business judg- |
ment, especially in view of tie fact |
that because of weather conditions |
work cannot be commenced for sew
aral months, to delay advertising for |
bids until such a time as the cost of |
abor and material during the coming |
season can be more definitely guaged |
both by the department and by the
contractor.
ShOec-Shoac