Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-12-05

cent This shows that the road tax
has been decreased while others were
being raised.
Useless Relocation.
The useless re-locations' with which
the board is charged are, as a usual
thing, changes in township roads which
meander about and which must be
definitely located before any real flu
ture improvement can he made. Mr.
White pointed out that, in building
permanent roads, the commission is
not working merely for the men who
paid the taxes but for their children
and coming generations for countless
years to come. He advanced interesting
figures to show the benefits to be de-
rived trOm the sO-callcl useless
change" in the Stanhope road south Of
this city in the Millard's bridge vicin-
ity. This change, he pointed out, will
shorten the road 81 of mile. The
cost of buying the right of way is &c.
COO. The cost of improvements now
being made approXimates 5000 mile.
Thus by shortening the route 81 of Il
mile. Il saving of 81, 800 is made. This is
Is per cent of the cost of the right of
way.
Future Savings.
Sometime, this road will be paved,
said Mr.. White. Paving now costs
$50, 900 a mile but it is fair to figure
that it will be cheaper. probably as low
as $4,000 mile. The change which
shOrtens the road 81 of mile. thus
saves $1S.20O or Il total of 500. 700 in all
which is saved by this change in route.
This is really small portion of the
saved. Mr.. White went OH. 1t
is estimated that 200 vehicles pass over
this road every day. 1t is fair to es-
innate the operating cost of these ma
chimes ut 10 cents mile. Saving 81
of mile. represents a saving Of SIS
a day in operating expenses. Counting
300 days to the year, this one change
saves $500 each year, and will go Oh
doing so for years to come
Reads the Law.
AS further proof that The commits
sion must cooperate with the county
board. Mr.. White read the road law
which states specifically that the SUPER
yisOrs must introduce the project. The
approves the change and
makes the survey after which it sends
it's plans to the board for acceptance.
The board advertises for bids. He clos
ed by quoting the current prices for
various steps in road Improvement.
On Fire Prevention.
r. w. Miller discussing the "Rela-
ton of Fire Insurance to Engineering
Problems" emphasized the Importance
of fire insurance. He showed that, in
1920, $5OO,OOO,OO0 was lost through
fire. The problems WHICH he said en-
sineers may solve to improve fire pro-
lection are problems Of water supply.
sewage systems and building construc-
ton.
One of the chief causes of fires, he
said. is amateur electric installation.
He urged engineers to consider prob
ems of storing of combustibles, poor
buildings and other problems which
have direct influence on fire insurance
rates and urged that they get in touch
With the Iowa Insurance bureau when
n doubt.
Vote to Have Dinners.
The Engineers club voted at this
Meeting to continue the practice OF
having dinner at each meeting and J.
.. Ouackenbush and Fred II. Austin
we're named as committee TO collect
;pccial assessments for these meetings.
The membership committee. on which
J. +. Schenk and NJ. Y. Youlden serve.
offered report at the beginning Of the
Meeting and II. a. Little. of the pro-
ram committee. announced the fol-
owing program for the next meeting
Assessment Problems of Recon-
;tructed Drainage Districts +. ).
3oudinot and Il. G. Austin.
Legal Phases Of Reconstructed
Drainage Districts" J. f. Burnstedf.
.IAroblems of Sewer Assessment NJ.
7. Norris.
whats New in Engineering f. G.
lack.
Mrs. John H. Lee visited Saturday
With her sister. Mrs. W. c. Halvrrson.
f Woodstock.