Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-06-15
sOana psnIe. smaIrs Changes.


Charges made against the Wiscon-
sin highway commission and A. II.
Hirst, It's chief engineer. by GOV. Len
Small Of Illinois were refuted In a
statement issued by the commission.
wisconsin has won its high stand
ing as a good roads state through its
development OF patrol maintenance and
gravel roads," says the statement.
state Highway Engineer Hirst is
probably the foremost advocate OF
gravel roads among the highway en-
glneers Of the country. The policy
with which his name name is ident-
fed and which he has frequently
reiterated In public addresses is that
we should not spend all OF our funds
or the major part Of them In building
few miles Of expensive types Of sur
facing. but that traffic must be served
now, and this can be done only Wy
developing and maintaining a large
mileage Of the lower type Of road.
Because of this policy Wisconsin has
attracted nationwide attention and
delegations from other states have fire.
Quently visited our state. Recently
the governor Of Illinois and a large
number Of members OF the Illinois leg
islature visited Wisconsin 10 investi-
gate the patrol-maintained gravel and
dirt roads. In the matter Of concrete
surfaced construction, the Wisconsin
idea has been 10 build this type Of
road only when and where economical
IL justified. and any statement that IL
has been the policy OF the commission
or OF State Highway Engineer Hirst
10 build them regardless Of cost is
wholly without foundation. as the
records show. Because Of the high
I prices asked for concrete construction
last year the department cut the con-
I structiOn program In n drastic way, In
many instances refusing 20 approve
contracts because Of the price asked,
even when local communities wished
20 carry on the work. When the ce-
ment manufacturers refused 20 reduce
their price sufficiently early In 1921.
Mr. Hirst Informed them that the
price must be cut as had the price Of
other commodities. At his request
the Wisconsin highway commission Is
sued specific directions that unless the
price was reduced below last years
E Wisconsin would cease 10 build con-
crete roads. The result was a re-
ductlon that will save the state over
$4,000 on this years construction.
At Mr.. Hirst's suggestion the joint
highway committee OF the assembly
and the senate has introduced a bin
In the legislature 20 permit the coun-
ties which have bonded 70 build con-
crete roads 10 change 70 other types
OF surfacing where the price OF con-
crete Is too high. Contracts let In
Wisconsin for ls-foot concrete roads
from January ] 20 May % Of this
year range In total cost from $4,000
70 $4,000 per mile and the average
= $1,000 per mile. This cost Is the
total, including grading bridges. cul-
verts. guard rails and all other items.
Grading costs vary from a few hun
dred dollars up 90 over S7.Go0 per mile.
Culyerts and bridges cost from $500 20
$500 per mile. Published figures in
dictate that the average cost per mile
~ contracts let IN an Eastern state so
far this year Is over 10000 mile. II
state wishes 20 select only the cas-
lest and cheapest stretches Of high
way for construction II can show
record OF low cost. but IL thereby
leaves unhuilt q mileage Of high cost
road which must later be built"