South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-21
ANNOUNCE PLAN
Of ROAD WORK
Proposed System of Highway
viii Give County Best
System in State.


of the best systems OF county roads
In the state If the plans Of L. A.
Zeitler, superintendent Of the de-
partment of county highways. and
George Y. Hepler, foreman Of the
department, are successfully com
Lleted
The department now has the
maintenance of 14O miles of county
unit roads and the prospect of the
addition of many more miles of
roads that are now being taken
care of by township trustees. 1t is
the plan of Mr.. Hepler to eventually
take over the entire township road
maintenance and conduct il through
the county department.
The county department for the
upkeep and maintenance Of roads
was first authorized March Is, 1918.
and the local department was or
ganized shortly after the passage of
the act by the legislature.
Henderson McClellen was selected
by the board OF commissioners to
be the first man 10 head the de-
partment in st. Joseph county. Mr.
McClellen held the position of su-
Lerintendent for several years and
was then succeeded by Frank White.
Mr.. White conducted the depart
ment with varying success and in
July, 1919. Mr.. Hepler assumed ac-
tive charge Of the department.
Appoint Foremcn.
Foremen Of various districts over
the county were appointed by Mr..
Hepler, who instituted an honor
system. Each foreman is given 4
certain portion of highway 10 main
tain. He is directly responsible for
the roadway that Is entrusted to his
care and it is inspected at various
intervals by Mr.. Hepler
The entire department is appoint
i've from the superintendent down
to the last man and the election
evil of being forced TO endure an
incompetent man during the remain
der of his term OF Office is elimi-
mated.
II have found practically no
trouble with the men so far" Mr..
Hepler said. II try TO pick men
that have already taken an active
part in public work and are re-
spOnsible men willing to assume a
public duty"
Issue Road Pamphlets.
Pamphlets have been issued by
the department and distributed over
the entire county giving the name
of each foreman and the roadway
for which he is responsible. Many
road rules and cautions against &C
cidents are also included in the
pamphlet.
An appropriation OF $25. 900 for
additional equipment for the de-
partment was made 70 be used in
purchasing utensils TO be used in
the spring work OF the department.
There is now included in the amount
of equipment belonging TO the de-
partment a three, two and three
quarter ton trucks. Over $4,000
was spent during 1919 for the up
keep of county roads. About $4,000
will be spent during 1920.
Already two township trustees
have requested the department TO
take over the roads in their town
ship and maintain them. AS the
department progresses il is thought
more townships will take action.
until all roads will be operated
through he county department
with the exception Of highways
maintained by the state department.
Contemplated improvements.
At the present time but four and
one-half miles in the county are
under the management of the state
department. This is the Niles, re-
Gently completed north of South
Bend The state department is con-
templating taking over the Dixie
highway from South Bend south 10
the county line and the Lincoln
highway. but at the present time
these two roads are under the man
agement OF the county department
Two gravel pits have been pur-
chased by the commissioners and
are under the supervision of this dc
partment. -Four more are being in
vestigated and will probably be pur-
AAA0NNA " AAAN NNhAANJ az NtAt aANN~A
future. These pits will be in various
parts Of the county and will be
much cheaper method of securing
gravel than by contract. Screening
apparatus will he purchased in the
spring which will make the hauling
of gravel for an considerable dis
lance a practical expenditure for the
county.
The two pits owned at the present
time are the Swartz pit in Loncoln
I township a few miles north OF
Walkerton. which contains four and
one half acres, and the Miller Fit IN
Greene township which contains two
and one-quarter acres.
Road signs for every road in the
county are being prepared by the
department and will be placed at
the various crossings within the next
few months. II is the plan of the
department 20 place these sign posts
on every road and highway in the
county. making it next TO impossi-
bic 10 become lost or on the wrong
/ road.