Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1920-12-31
Review Of Year on
WiScOnSin'S Roads
Sec. Cannon of the Good Roads
Association of Wisconsin in
High Praise of Work
Done in State.

eNON~OA
than in 1920. The outlook for the
coming year was never brighter than
that before us for 1921
The figures at hand show that dur
ing the year 1920 total of 623 miles
of earth road were improved by
grading and draining; ga miles Of
gravel roads, macadam, nine tailings
and similar types; 126 miles of sand
clay surfacing; and 1873 miles of the
concrete surfacing This is total of
1861 miles of Wisconsin highways
improved in the form of construction
in the past year-a remarkable rec
ord considering the conditions.
In the matter of maintenance, 1924
miles of the state trunk highway sys-
tenn were under patrol maintenance
this year in charge of 854 patrolmen.
There was available for this purpose
from automobile license fees, $1,750.
The heavy-traffic counties added to
that $25O,O0O making a total of $4,000
900. Several thousand miles OF coun-
ty trunk highways were also handled
under patrol maintenance. There
was available for this 100000 from
the automobile license fund, which in
many instances, was increased by the
counties from local funds.
There were many hampering con-
ditions in 1920 Labor and materials
were high, making prices OF con-
struction in many instances prohlbl-
tive. Cars for the transportation OF
material were extremely difficult to
secure, and the amount of cement
was limited. The condition OF the
bond market was such that it was
practically impossible to market the
bonds for road improvement. This
had a marked effect, especially on
the mileage of concrete surfacing con-
structed. Taking it all in all, however,
and looking at the whole state, Wis
consin never made better progress in
single year nor were her roads ever
in better condition
For the year 1921 the outlook is
highly optimistic The labor and the
transportation conditions have very
much improved. Prices are sliding
and never in the history of the state
have the various counties provided
for such big programs of road i'm.
provement The counties which are
bonded are anxious to push their
work
There will be total of approx
mately S24 900 600 available for high
way construction and maintenance in
1921 from all sources-federal, state,
counties and other local units, and
motor vehicle licenses. OF this $19,-
100000 is for construction and $4,-
100000 for maintenance. The con-
struction fund is made up of $4,000
900 from bond issues and 100000
under the state trunk highway act
which includes the federal aid. The
balance is made up Of state, county
and local funds.
The carrying out of this program
depends in a measure on conditions
which at present look bright. The
bond issue program depends largely
on the condition of the bond market.
Such counties as Waukesha, Fond du
Lac, Racine, Dodge and Brown have
in view bond-issue highway construc-
ton running in each instance from
$75O,0OO to $1,0OO,O00.
To revert to the highway situation
in the state during the past year, it
may be said that Wisconsin has TAX
en- the leadership in the middle west
Emulation is the best commentator
and Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Michi-
gan and other states have adopted
our road marking system. Illinois
will undoubtedly adopt our patrol
maintenance system. A large num-
Der of delegations, especially from IL
linois, have visited Wisconsin dur
ing the year to learn how we do the
things with our roads.
Inc press Vi OLnCA oCnSOo mas AhO
words of praise for the Wisconsin
idea in road building and mainten-
ance. Two Of the leading farm jour-
nails in the middle west recently sent
staff correspondents to look over the
Wisconsin roadside Orange Judd
Farmer and the Prairie Farmer.
They wrote up glowing stories re-
garding the road work in Wisconsin
and urged their own state, Illinois,
to adopt the Wisconsin system. A
Chicago Tribune writer, after tour
ing the states of the middle west,
gave the palm to Wisconsin and
said that this state was doing what
other states were theorizing about.
The Chicago Automobile Journal,
looking at things from the tourist
point O f view, said that Wisconsin
had become the tourist ground of the
middle west because of the good
roads within her borders.
All in all, in the retrospect and in
the prospect, Wisconsins good road
enthusiasts can feel happy at the end
Of tho vear