Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1919-02-24

Joint Committees of House
and Senate Make State
ment of Proposed
New Bill.
OUTLINES ROAD PLAN
Provides for 5000 Miles of
Hard Surfaced Roads
in State.

Representative j. G. Sterling has
. sent the Freeman-Journal a copy of a
statement made by the joint house and
senate committees OH the proposed new
road bill This statement will be read
with interest by every person interest
ed in good roads, as it Outlines thor
oughly the proposed provisions of the
new bill. The statement follows:
After separate meetings of the sen
ate and house road committees, follow
ed by joint meetings of the two COM
mittees, at all of which there was full
and free discussion of the question of
road legislation, each chairman was,
4 joint subcommittee of twelve tinclud-
4 ing the chairman) to formulate bill
for submission to the committees of the
senateeand the house for consideration.
The legislation is of vital moment, the
problems involved are. intricate and the
labor of preparation is difficult and re-
quires time and great care. The bill
is not vet completed. Much remains to
be done, but it is possible at this time
to submit synopsis Of some of the
main features Of the bill as it is de-
yeloping. and we have thought mem
hers would welcome such synopsis at
this time.
Bill in Brief.
Briefly stated, the committee hopes
to complete bill that will, when the
work is done and without a state bond
issue, provide for primary road sys-
TEN of intercOunty hard surfaced
roads, about six thousand miles in ex-
tent, same to be paid for from federal
aid funds motor vehicle funds and spe-
cial assessment benefits; and to make
provisions also for development of the
secendasS. system.
A,e .-.sl 80. system OF six thousand
miles will embrace about one-third of
the present county road system, and
will release the remaining two-thirds
thereof Ito be known hereafter as the
county road system) from the expense
of development of the primary system.
All existing road taxes would thus re-
main exclusively for the secondary
roads, together with whatever addition
al taxes or additional machinery for
development of the secondary roads the
legislature may deem wise.
Federal Aid.
AS to the federal aid. the amount
now available during the coming two
years is about $4,OOO,OOO under the
present law In addition to this, if
the house passes the bill that recently
passed the senate for additional fed
eral aid Iowa S share OF such addition
al funds will be about $7,95OO0O dis
tributed over the next three years.
The following Is synopsis of sun
dry features of the proposed bill as
~ Is UclHs WOIheu Out.
Ito create II system of substantial
and durable highway improvements for
each county, coordinate same with re-
quirements of federal government, Sc
cure the benefit of present and future
federal aid acts and pledge the state
to meet same.
TO divide the highways of the
state into a primary system and sec
ondary system, the primary system
embracing about six thousand miles,
to consist of the main market roads
which connect all county seat towns
and cities and main market centers, be-
ing the intercounty system already
designated under the federal aid act,
and to which all federal aid is express
" limited.
To Drain and Grade.
3.-TO provide for the grading and
draining of said primary system by
each county from funds derived wholly
from motor vehicles and federal aid
and to provide for the hard surfacing
thereof. such hard surfacing to be paid
seventy-tive per cent from the motor
vehicle and federal aid funds, ana
twenty-five per cent from special as
sessments on abutting and adjacent
Droperty within zones benefited.
Ito create primary road fund
for the development of the primary
road system consisting of:
(a) Federal aid funds already avail
able. =
tb) Federal funds hereafter appro-
priated.
lcl Receipts from motor vehicles.