Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-08-22
WILL WONDERS NEVER CEASE.

sibly build.
WILL WONDERS NEVER CEASE.
No, never! Some one might have
thought short time ago that the days
of miracles had passed, but all such
now have assurances to the contrary.
According to press reports what was
supposed to be the impossible has ac-
tually taken place. Would you believe
it? The State Highway Commission of
Iowa has abrogated road paving con-
tract because the price was too high!
Did you ever hear anything Ike it?
And that road was to cost only S5S,00O
per mile-only a little more than $40
per running foot!
It is time fcr the people of Iowa to-
congratulate themselves. Everybody
had supposed that the State Highway
Commission had absolutely no regard
for expenses so long as the public paid
them, but here is concrete illustra-
ton that the commission has finally
had its rhinOceros hide punctured by
the protests of taxpayers who feared
bankruptcy would follow the carrying
out Of certain contract.
The commission orders roads chang
ed, bridges torn down. houses moved
and old established highways discon-
tinued regardless of expense and right
now at a time when the people are
grooming under a burden of taxation
that is causing them to stagger beneath
the load.
But cheer up. 1t is now a matter of
public record that contractor can
charge price that even this sporty old
commission looks upon with suspicion
That is good omen-a harbinger OF
hope. at least!
"The commission according to press
reports. has disapproved contracts let
by the Scott county board Of supervis-
ors for paving thirteen miles of the
Davenport-N New London road and the
Davcnport-G ambrill road with brick.
boand with a bituminous filler"
1t appears, however. that the commits
sion would not have SHE'D at this con-
tract but for the overworked condition
of the bond market. Further, it is
pointed out" say press reports, that
in view of the heavy Improvement pro-
gram carried out during the past year
| by the county, in which over 20 miles
| of brick pavemcnts have been put
down, the county would have to finance
the proposed Improvement entirely by
means of bond issues and that, in the
present condition of the money market,
bonds would undoubtedly have to he
disposed Of at discount of from q to
per cent. This would add several
! thousand dollars more per mile TO the
pavement construction cost"
But here is the most astounding
statement of all and indicates that the
commission actually realizes that there
are such things as "hardships' in ex-
cessive taxation burdens. This revcla-
ton is. most reasuring, even though
entirely unexpected:
''There was filled with the commits
sion,' say press reports, "a petition
from seventy per cent Of the property
owners in the assessment district ask
| ing that the pavement on the proposed
project be postponed at least for a
year or more. The commission has just
written the Scott county board disap-
proving the two contracts and giving as
it's reasons for the action, its belief
that, $4,000 to $5S,0O0 per mile is too
much to pay for country highway
paving at present and that the levying
lOf % per cent of the cost of such a
priced road would work Il hardship on
the property holders