Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1921-02-10
GOV. BLAINE'S
ROAD MESSAGE
HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION
MEANS OF MEETING UNEM-
PLOYMENT PROBLEM.


One of the features of the message
of Governor Blaine, read at the open
ing session of the Wisconsin legisla-
ture, was its references to highways.
The section recommending the push
ing of road construction as factor IN
solving the unemployment problem,
struck an especially responsive chord.
Governor Blaine also discussed the
heavy truck problem, the grade cross
ing evil and recommended that some
of the general property tax levied for
highway, normal school and university
purposes be shifted to incomes. The
sections of the message devoted to
roads are as follows:
Road Building and the Unemployment
Problem.
During the war, substantially all
public improvements were abated. The
construction of good roads was almost
impossible. The amount available for
the construction of good roads under
the state highway system is about
$26, 100000. This money has been
raised by taxation and is otherwise
available, and is now presently in the
treasury of the several counties and
the state treasury. To enter upon
the construction of good roads at this
time does not involve the collection
of any additional tax, as the money
has already been raised and is now
idle.
There are thousands of citizens of
Wisconsin unemployed, and, judging
from the past, this situation will pre-
vail through next summer | submit
that Wisconsin citizens willing tc
work, should be given every opportuni-
ty to work. | recommend that the
Industrial Commission, through the
free employment Offices maintained By
the state, cooperate with the Highway
Commission in absorbing the unem-
ployed in road construction, as far as
possible and practicable, under legjs-
lation giving preference for this work
to citizens of the state and to those
who have no farming experience, tr
who cannot be placed on farms, and
alsc to those who are the head OF
family.
There are 10000 men out of employ
Iaent in Wisconsin, and there will
probably be more within a short Llmc
With this number of unemployed men,
there will be enough to meet all de-
mands for farm help, and leave thous-
ands of men for highway construction
during the period of depression.
Thus we will perform two sery:cc4: !:
first, ty using our unemployed work
ers in the building of good roads, and
second. by retaining on the farms
workers trained in agricultural pur-
suits, instead of diverting such labor
from the farms to the task of build
ing roads.
Heavy Motor Trucks.
There is a general complaint on
every hand that the heavy trucks car
rying heavy loads of freight and ex-
press are doing an immense amount
Of permanent injury to our highways.
Highways are intended for the
usual and ordinary uses of the general
public, and not for special and ex-
traordinary use, such as the use of
the highways for this heavy trans
portation.
This extraordinary use made of the
highways is mourning a tremendous
expense in upkeep, repair and replace
ment of our highways
recommend that there be legisla
ton that will protect our highways
against such injury.
Railroad Grade Crossings.
Hundreds of people lose their lives,
both the travelling public and train
men, because of accidents at railroad
grade crossings. We have, in a meas
ure, passed laws to bring about the
elimination of grade crossings. These
laws are indefinite and not altogether
enforcible Such laws should be re-
vised to make them practical, aud
such other measures should be taken
as may be necessary to minimize the
accidents and dangers Of grade cross
ngs.
The Grade Crossing Evil
The recommendation in the MESA Sc
of Governor Blaine to the Legislature
that steps be taken to remedy the
grade crossing evil is an excellent one
Grade crossings in the day of horse
drawn traffic were an evil; today with
motor vehicle traffic they are public
menace. Horse drawn traffic was slow
and usually infrequent, and hence The
element of risk was not so great
Motor vehicle traffic is swift and there
are 100000 of these vehicles using thu
roads of Wisconsin today where ter
years ago there were practically none
The volume of the traffic and it:
character has increased the risk hun
dredfold
The figures tell the story. For th'
fiscal year ending June 80, 1920, tner,
were in Wisconsin 153 accidents a
steam railroad grade crossings, re
-,