The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-08-18
How Movement Started.

Illinois boasts Of %. 900 miles Of high
way. Seven years & 5000 miles OF
the. most important We're set aside Tor
Improvement by cooperation between
the state and county. The legislature
agreed to pay one-half OF the cost OF
building hard roads and also perna-
nentiy maintain them after construc-
ton. This was the first moveifentNin
behalf OF good roads, hut there we're
DISADVANTAGES through lack Of unifor-
nifty and coordination and II was found
that there could be no stretches OF
trunk lines across the state. but simply
a patch work system or good and bad
roads. A tours who found "A stretch
Of good road in one county was apt
10 find that 1t connected with a bot
tomless mud hole In the adjoining, In
this crisis the proposal was made that
u higher unit be established under state
control. that " be constructed by a
state bond issue, and that the routes
be selected by the legislature Gov,
Frank 0. Lowden opposed a bond issue
which would require additional taxa,
ton. "A compromise was then ERECTED
by which the license fee ror motor cars
was Increased sufficient to take care
OF the bond issue. The owners OF auto
mobiles and trucks approved the idea
and there has been no opposition, The
campaign n behalf or the bond issue
was supported not only by the motor
lEl9s hhk w pa t
eFs, wOrkingnen, wonen's CLUBS, IN
fact, all Interests. Now, one year after
the was first launched, tan
gible results are being seen. There
has been delay, due to the scarcity OF
labor and the high price and scarcity
soldiers the former handicap has been
alIeviated, and the work is actually UNI
der way, Illinois will soon enjoy The
unique distinction OF a complete nigh
way commission wifi he state build.
ing and controlling the main roads and
the counties and townships, the feed
ers or laterals. The cost Is borne by
all OF the peoples those Of the city o.
well as those OF the country, but only
by people who own motor vehicles.
Financiers assert that the amorti.
zation plan by which the bonds and
the interest are to be ~liquidated, Is alb
! solutely safe.
What Illinois has done, other states
can do, with. of course, varying mod
~fications to conform to local conditions
and TO meet local requirements. The
Illinois plan bids fair 10 become uni
yarsal as its merits are realized. This
distinctive feature is the scheme by
which the motor license fees4take car,
Of the principal and interest, This ycal
cars Of ten horsepower or less pay !
license fee OF $3.50. Next year ant
thereafter It will be Sc. Cars Of horse
power between ten and 20 now pay So
next year the fee will be VA pro.
portionate increase is fixed for large
type Of machines. Motorcycles hay,
been taxed SO, Next year the fee will
be 81. The smaller type or electric car
now pay $40, Next year they must pa!
S12. The larger type of electrics nov
pay $50, Next year the rate win b.
S2h. Owners OF cars have cheerful!
acquiesced In the increase when the.
found that every dollar would be de
voted TO q permanent system OF roaC
improvement,
10 William G. Edens, of Chicago
president OF the Illinois Highway I'm
"provenlent association, Is due a larg,
measure OF the credit FOR the success
ful campaign in behalf Of q state ali
road system and the payment througI
license fees,
The bulk Of the roads now under con
structlon will be of concrete. laid upo
crushed stone. In many instances 70
a mile or two adjoining the principe
cities where the traffic Is OF the heav
lest, brick will be used for the uppe
surfacing with u bed Of concrete. A
vet there has been no convict labc
reuuisitloned, In 1918 the legislator
adopted a law requested by Coy. Dunn
permitting the employment OF prison
ers under the honor system, One day
committed from the sentence Of eac
prisoner for every three devoted to roa
work. In miscellaneous road work 70
a humber OF years several thousan
convicts have been utilized and 1t
expected that a large number will b
employed In building the $50, 600, 0C
trunk line system just in%augurated, TIL
utilization Of convicts will be governc
TO some extent by the labor situation
in 30 years II is hoped that 30 per Ger
OF the roads of the state will, be In
proved. equalling the record Of Mass
chusetts at the present time. lllino
is now forced TO admit that only
Per cent Of her highways have bee
m~acadamiZed.