Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-11-26
ROAD BUILDING IN
ILLINOIS SETS NEW
1921.
MARK IN MODERN HIGHWAY
CONSTRUCTION - REP OiRTS
SHOW PRICES GREATLY RE-
DUCED.

All state and national records In
road building were broken by Illinoi
this year according to an official high
way report issued yesterday.
The report shows $50 miles OF paw
| ing completed at an average cost OF
| $2S.540 per mile, and 63l additional
miles under contract at figures which
will make that mileage cost, according
to the report, about $27,S15 a mile.
Road work completed in La Sale
county during the past season is esti'
mated at about eighteen miles. There
is approximate eleven miles more OF
road work now under contract be
tween Ottawa and Streator
Coupled with the report, which was
submitted by Frank T. Sheets, super
intendent Of highways, and Clifford
Older chief engineer, to the state
highway advisory board, came the an
nouncement from Governor Small that
his 1922 program calls for construc'
ton of 1000 miles of new pavement.
326 miles of heavy grading and 2O9
bridges.
Not only did Illinois build more
roads than any other state this year,
but it built them at a lower average
cost. the report adds. Governor Small
is credited by the highway division
with smashing prices as well as rec
ords for work accomplished. He re-
jected all bids for roadwork costing
over 10000 per mile.
In its exhaustive survey Of highway
work during the year the report says:
"A summary of road lettings shows
the division let between Jan ! and
Nov Is a total of 529,44 miles of pave
ment, at a cost of $14, 26,554.24, max
ing an average of $27, S15 per mile, in
Guiding cement; 25947 miles of grad
ing. costing $l,7S1, ,40712, and 1853
separate bridges, costing Sl,4l4, 1871
a grand total of 1892, 1860.
The letting Of Nov. 10 of 102 miles
of pavement, at an average cost per
mile of $26,25321, broke all records
and brought the total of pavement let
since Jan. l up to 631 miles.
This year we have completed to
date $50 miles of pavement. Last
year there was constructed 340.b
miles. We will complete at least 400
miles before the season ends, break
Ing last years record by approximate
ly sixty miles
"The average cost per mile for con
crete pavement on Feb. IS was $39-
12O. On Oct. this had been reduced
to $28,540 Excavation prices have
| been reduced from 56 cents per cubic
yard on Feb. Is to 26 cents; class A
, concrete from S26.29 per cubic yard,
on Feb. IS, to S16.S3.
During 1921 there were ninety-five
different paving contractors operating
in the state and total of 102 paving
mixers at work; forty-nine bridge con
tractors and thirty-nine grading con
| tractors were also at work. These
contractors were working on total
of 2S3 Independent paving. grading
and bridge sections. Three million
cubic yards of earth were moved and
approximately forty-five separate
bridges completed There were EN-
ployed about 1900 men and 1900
teams on paving, grading and bridge
] contracts.
"The total amount paid out since
the division was organized on state
rid and state bond issue roads is $32,
i 9S1 ,461 SO. OF this amount, $30,000,.
900 was expended on the bond issue
system the remainder being on scat
tered state aid sections. Tho amount
received from the federal government
IN 1ato fntolc 60 tS0 S0k 90
THE net balance in the road fund
Nov. was S499,051.47. To preserve
this balance for maintenance opera
tions and other operations not payable
from the proceeds of the state bonds
1t became necessary to negotiate the
sale of s5,000,000 worth OF per CEN
state bonds These were sold Oct. 25
The bonds brought the remarkably
high price of S94,02, which represent:
an interest rate of approximatel!
4S2R per cent Finance authoritie
say this is the cheapest money bough
since 1917.
An interesting fact in connection
with the divisions activities is tina
the total amount spent for genera
administration, engineering and su
/, pervision totals only 4.25 per cent
This is a remarkable record in stat
administration as the overhead ccs
: of construction work carried on b.
municipalities under the special as
sessment act probably runs from t
: 10 per cent. The record of 4.35 pc
, cent is probably lower than that Q
: any similar organization In the Unite
Estates