Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-02-11
COUNTY ROADS
WILDE UNDER
PATROL SYSTEM
Highway Superintendent TO
Make Test of New
Law.

Announcing that the road patrol main
tenance system as provided for in the
laws enacted by the 1921 General Assem-
bly, would be adopted for number OF
highways in Marion County, Warren
Rumford, county highway superintend-
ent today stated that he expects to be-
gin the patrol system within very short
time. 81 have little doubt that mainte-
nance work as provided for under this
act will be found a valuable adjunct TO
our county road system, just as it has
been proven a valuable aid to the State
roads. We are planning TO give the
maintenance system a thorough trial in
Marion County on some Of the main
highways, and if il proves itself az we
expect, we plan gradually to extend the
! patrol on all county roads"
MOTOR CLUB
4VTIVITIEs.
Mr. Rumford points out that the patrol
maintenance act was passed through the
activities Of the HOOsier Motor Club. rep
resenting the organized motorists OF
Marion County, and the Hoosier State
Automobile Association, representing the
motorists Of the State at large. These
organizations, he stated, have since been
actively engaged in inducing the various
/ boards Of county commissioners to adopt
] INC ei-4 anu ne states quite u nuLAUEE
Of Dunties are already working under
tbs system.
The law gives the country road au-
th0rities ample facilities under which to
provide road repair materials az frequent
intervals along 4 highway" said Mr..
Rumford, land provides for a regular
patrol of that highway so that when
holes begin to form they can quickly be
repaired. 4 system Of grading and drag
ging is also provided for, so that when
once properly prepared, a county high
way may be- kept in good condition ana
thus, it is argued. save many thousands
Of dollars in replacement costs every few
years In addition 10 this it is shown
that the saving to automobile owners in
lessened wear and tear on their vehicles
viii be an important result from the
functions Of this law"
STATE ROADS
NOT INCLUDED.
The highways OF Marion County IN
der control Of the highway superintend-
ent now include the so called township
roads. but DO not include State main
tanned roads. The total mileage now IN
der Mr.. Rumford's supervision in this
county IS approximately 200 miles, he
stated. We are quite handicapped for
funds and for proper machinery" ha
( added. In 1920 the total funds amounted
10 only $4,000 and many smaller coun-
ties of Indiana. with half or a third Of
our mileage, had as high as twice that
sum- Coming into 1921 we had between
$4,000 and 10000 in unpaid claims
hanging over from the previous year,
which reduced the amount available for
road work last year. Trucks were in bad
conCition and two new ones were pur-
chased, and in addition we purchased two
10 7arz 4
much more equipment II We are prop
erly TO care for our highways and am
hopeful Of obtaining quite a bit Of new
machinery this year
Mr. Rumford declared that IN the most
part the principal roadways Of Marion
County are in good travelling condition
and have been all winter, barring some
ruts caused by partial thawing and
freezing. and IN this he is substantiated
By reports from the HoOsier Motor Club
scout department as well as frequent
reports from the rural route division OF
the Indianapolis pOstoffice. We feel IN
der obligations TO the Hoosier Motor
Club for its constant assistance IN
reporting lad road conditions he said.
at has also been Of great help to
us IN keeping detours properly marked"
WORK UNDER
CONTEMPLATION.
The principal work contemplated by
Mr.. Rumford is widening the roadways
wherever possible and providing bitches
which will supply proper drainage, he
states He points out that the $no mans
land" gaps between county or State
roads and city streets are now all either
paved, under process Of being paved or
under contract under the connecting
link law
THE best part of It. so far as motor
lists are concerned" he said, lis that
we no longer viii dump wagon loads OF
gravel on the rOadways and allow the
front axles Of automobiles, or the engine
bases, TO do the spreading. We be
ueve any automobile driver who has run
into loose gravel two feet deep
will appreciate this. Mr. RUmford
also stated that he has promised the
motor club 10 watch all bridge ap-
proaches more closely, erect more guara
railing and paint them white. and to
safeguard travel from bad bitches and
other hazards that motorists are apt to