Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-02-22
FEDERAL AID AND AUTO
LICENSES TO PAY BILL
Of County Decide to Extend Work
Beyond Provisions Of General Law
Primary and Secondary Road Sys.
toms Called For. H.


committee of twelve to formulate a
bill for submission to the committees
of the senate and the house for. con.
sideration. The joint subcommittee
has been working steadily on the bill
in the light OF the general expression
of opinion at the. meetings preceding
their appointment. and in the light Of
many suggestions from individual
members and of sundry bills that have
been introduced.
Briefly stated. the committee hopes
TO complete a bill that will. when the
work is done and without state
system Of inter-county ard-surface
roads. about six thousand miles in ex-
tent. same TO be paid for from fed
eral aid funds. motor vehicles funds
and special assessment benefits; ard
20 make provision also for develop.
ment Of the secondary system.
The Primary SYSTEM
The primary system of six thou
sand miles Will embrace about one
third Of the present county road sys-
tenn. and will release the remaining
wo-thirds thereof (to be known
hereafter as the County Road System)
from the expense of development OF
the primary system. All existing
road taxes would thus remain eN-
clusiveIy for the secondary roads, to-
gether with whatever additional taxes
or additional machinery for develop
ment Of the secondary roads the legis-
lature may deem wise.
60 1T rA aoNn ant
now available during the coming two
years is about 100000 under the
present law. In addition to this. il
the house passes the bill that recently
passed the senate for additional fed
eral aid, Iowa's share Of such addi-
tional funds win be about 1880. 900
distributed over the next three years.
Synopsis Of Features.
The following is synopsis OF
sundry features Of the proposed bill
as it is being worked out:
/. To create a system Of substan-
tial and durable highway improve
ments for each county. coordinate
same with requirements OF federal
government. secure the benefit OF
present and future federal aid acts
and pledge the state to meet same.
9 To divide the highways Of the
state into primary system and a
secondary 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. being the inter
county system already designated
under the federal aid act. and to which
all federal aid is expressly limited.
Grading and Draining.
5. To provide for The grading and
draining OF said primary system by
each county rom funds derived Who'll
~ from motor vehicles and federal
aid. and to provide for the hard-suf-
facing thereof, such hard surfacing
to be paid severty-hve per cent from
the motor vehicles and federal aid
fund, and twenty-five par cent from
special assessments on abutting and
adjacent property within zones bene-
fitted. "
The Primary Roa! Fund.
1. To create primary road fund
for the development OF the primary
road system, consisting Of:
(a) Federal cid funds already avail
able.
(b) Federal funds hereafter appro-
priated.
(c) Receipts from motor vehicles.
(d) Proceeds Of special assessments
This primary fund it is believed Will
produce per annum from motor We
hicles and fe leral aid alone (apd no;
including special benefit assessments
about 100000 on present registra-
ton Of motor vehicles with anticipat-
ed changes This fund TO be devoted
exclu sively to pay for draining, grad
Ing and hard-surfacing the primary
road system and to the retirement Of
any bonds watch may be issued for
such purpose, in case county votes
to anticipate such revenue, this pri-
mary road fund to be Apportioned tc
the various counties the same as Is
done under the Iowa federal aid law
namely. according to area.
County Has Three Options.
It is contemplated that the county
shall have three options:
(a) To drain and grade all OF the
primary road system before doins
any hard surfacing.
10 To hard-surface (alwayi
draining and srading) year by year al
the primary road fund becomes avail
able.
(c) Or, to anticipate its revenue
from the primary road fund Tor sucr
purposes by issuing bonds on vote
OF the people, such bonds to be re-
deemed from revenues coming IRON
the primary road fund and lin case
Of hard surfacing, also from specla
benefit assessments as stated above.
May Issue Bonds.
q. II the county desires to anticipate
its revenue from the primary road
fund for development Of primary road
system, 1t may vote 50 to do, anc
authorize at one election the issuance
Of sufficient bonds to complete same
but to be issued from time to time
a contracts on sections Of the roads
are Let and completed: or the count,
may make tentative contracts for tn
development Of such roads and sub.
NIT to the voters the question OF vail.
dating such specific contracts and tn
issuance OF bonds to pay therefor, tn
bonds in N CASES TO be retired from
proceeds ofsprimary road fund includ'
ing Tin caSe Of hard .surfacing) pro
ceeds Of special assessments previous
ly mentioned. Power Of tax levy b!
- ~ q. ~.