Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29

One of the Trucks Used by
and Iowa tie for the honor of hay
ing the greatest number of cars per
capita Zone for every 6H persons)
he realizes how important the prob
lem of building highways in this
state has become.
Began Highways in 1917.
need not mention the early
highway development in the state,
as settlers know too we'll the at
tempts made to bring road construc-
tion and maintenance under uni
form supervision.
The systematic highway develop
ment in Nebraska began in 1917. At
that time the legislature provided d
the funds and laws whereby the peo-
pie OF the state might EXPECT a
standard system of highways, con-
structed and maintained under fed
eral and state supervision. Briefly.
the 1916 law apportioned $1,6OO,O00
federal appropriation for Nebraska.
Since that time, additional appro.
priations have brought this federal
fund up to $5,S00,000. In 1917 the
legislature appropriated 100000, to
meet an equal mount of federal
money, and provided that the state
highway department should COOP
crate with the county officials In
laying out "a system of highways. A
system of approximately 4,50O miles
was laid out and the work of con-
struction Immediately started.
les Projects Submitted
At the close of the work last fall
l,493 miles of road had been sur
veyed. One hundred and six pro-
Ject statements had been submitted
to the United States Department of
Agriculture, of which 81 were ap-
proved.
Forty separate contracts were let,
including 845 miles of road, costing
approximately $3,025,0O0. Of this
total mileage, six miles called for
concrete paving, costing $19o, 400; 68
miles OF graveling, costing $261 900,
and five and one-half milss of brick
paving, costing $208,00O; the remain
der was grading. I might state fur
fher that property along this brick
pavement has increased In value ap-
proximately $l00 per acre since the
Improvement was made.
Approximately SO per cent of all
the contracts let last year have been
completed, and the balance will be
completed before July l of this year.
Program for 1920.
torty-eight projects, totaling COS
miles, are ready for contracting
during 1920. The total amount OF
federal and state funds to be ex-
pended on these projects amounts
to $3,884,0 ,000 Funds from the coun-
ties amount to 81, 100000. The larger
portion of these county funds come
in from Douglas county.
The road building. problem, as
outlined, calls for the Improvement
and maintenance of 4,500 miles of
highways. Nebraska has some 30
GOO miles of earth roads and it is
humanity impossible, regardless of
the funds at hand, to pave any ap-
preciable portion of these roads
within the coming few years. The
department. has attempted to form
program of road construction
which will give this state in all four
corners at least transversable roads.
The soil in Nebraska is such that
by reducing the percentage of grade
from . maximum of 10 per cent and
over to 7 per cent, it provides a
proper road section transversly and
longitudinally, and above all, it pro-
vides proper drainage. A road can
be constructed that will give good
service for at least 800 days in the
year.
1t has been stated that there is
no agricultural area in any county
where the roads are kept in as
good condition with so little work
as in this vast loess region OF Ne
braska.
Good Road Foundation.
We can also be assured that when
tuC udy SOlilCS WHICH, Hdi u SuIldCGu
roads are demanded by the people
of Nebraska, they will have at least
laid the foundation by constructing
the subgrade.
When the state highway system
had been completed, the state will
have good highways. and at the
same time the expenditures of
on earth and gravel roads
will in no way be sacrificed or
wasted, as they will be ready for
permanent surfacing at any time. |
Such factors as straight alignment,
good location and proper drainage
are being taken care of by state and
federal aid funds. Paving may be
attempted at any time, as rough
grading and perfect drainage will
have been provided. Such a policy, |
We believe. is the strongest possiblet