Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-09-06
bRADT TELLS STATE.
BANKERS ILLINOIS.
NEEDS ROAD FUNDS.
euPERiNTEN EVIDENT or HIGHWAYS
ANNOUNCES MORE CASH IS
NEEDED FOR CONSTRUCTION
CHiCAGOAN HEADS ASSOClA.
TON.

FN
La Sale, H., Sept 6--Illinois is
well on lis way to getting good roads
s. +. Bradt, state superintendent OF
highws@s 5, told the state bankers al
their convention here Friday MIR.
Hradt gave a supplemental talk OF the
report OF the highway committee ond
he outlined what Illinois is doing 10
improve its roads,
Illinois proposed road system VIII
cost 100000 000,' said Mr. Bradt, WHO
himself is banker at Dekalb, hGt
in reality we need $S7,O00,000 for the
work. High prices are the cause OF
this. 1t costs $31 900 for each mile Of
improved highway. When yon figure
that il costs $4,000 just TO grade
twenty-five miles you can see Whist
prices are Bridges and culyerts add
heavily to the expense.
y OF 620 miles of improved highway
which remained on the present sys-
TEN at the beginning OF the war con
trac.s were let this year for 540 miles.
Mr. Rradt said When this work is
completed roads will be opened be
tween St Louis and Chicago, ST
Louis and Terre Haute, Chicago 10 the
Mississippi and Chicago to Danville
aW ravors Federal Aid Plan.
Mr. Bradt told the bankers that le
4tsYors the federal aid system of road
building, which extends aid to various
stateS
We are working on fifty fifty
asis n the federal government he
declared, The United States has APP
proprlated 100000, 900 and # every
state would provide its share the ques
ton OF good roads would soon be
solved
Illinois already has been allotted
81 29f 900 from the federal govern
menr, he asserted.
The federal government now has in
opera ion a plan whereby it is turning
over to states excess equipment from
the war department. Illinois has been !
allotted 900 army trucks and approx
mately 100 caterpillar tractors. These
usually are leased to contractors, but
IN some cases are turned over to
county authorities. About 800 OF these
qjVchlnes have been received thus far
Mr. Bradt also spent some time in
ps planning the motor vehicle law.
,,,.+ Road Committee Reports.
Prior TO Mr. Bradts address, the
committee on good roads. presided
over by William G. Edens, submitted
its report TO the convention. The com
mittee stated that with the close o!
the So. 900 bond campaign last fall
which won the hearty approval Of
the voters of lllinos-most of its /
work was completed
We feel that the benefits derived
by the farmers from the county agent
system have fully justified the legis.
lation, the report asserted, and that |
in due time the entire school system
Of Illinois will be so improved that the
youth Of all sections of the state VIII /.
have equally as good district schools |
with practical courses, bringing the
understanding of agriculture to our
PEOPLE generally, as well as institl-
tons in other vocations. This i /
seems 20 us, will come true when the .
5Oc0omile system of good roads pro- /
vided for in the $50 100000 bond Issue /
law has been built"
The report also added that many
state and county road officials who /
enlisted in the war gained new ex-
pel'encc in road building, which j.,
bound 10 be an advantage to the state
highway department"
Elect Officers.
l. roy A. Goddard Of Chicago was
elected to the presidency of the asso-
citation at the closing session of the
annual convention. Mr. Goddard
election along with those of the othe~
clhcers who We're chosen to head the
state organization during the coming
year, was made unanimous
Tie election of officers came shortly
before adjournment at 1890 Friday
afternoon.
The other officers elected are as
follows:
W { White. Peoria. vice president
J. H. Standard Oglesby. treasurer.
NJ A. Goettinger Springfield, secre-
tary
MI uoettlnger was reelected as sec.