Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1922-01-07
Roads 10 Wisconsin

Both in retrospect and in prospect
/ those interested in the road movement
may feel cheerful at the breaking OF
I the years 1921 and 1922. Looking back
ward. they viii note that the former
year marks the greatest progress
made IN highway improvements in
the history of the state, and 1922
shows program Of unusual magn.-
tude.
1t is impossible al this time to
predict anything definite for the year
of 1923 on account OF the somew bat
complicated condition growing ont of
the failure of the last legislature 10
pass the usual highway appropriation
bill
Looking backward to 1921, We find
an unusual record in Wisconsin in
the fact that 98 per cent Of the road
jobs contracted for were completed
during the season, a record that can
hardly be equaled by any other state.
The total mileage of road improved
was 1905 at cost Of 81, 22o, 900. OF
this total 2,227 miles were surfaced
and on / ,37s miles the operations were
limited to grading.
The total mileage of concrete sur
facing was $40. at cost of SO. $50, 600.
gravel 973 miles costing 1920 900;
macadam 81 miles $685. 900 and mis-
oellaneous types 229 miles costing
+ ss04 900.
An equally bright outlook faces us
for 1922. Although complete figures
are not available, they Indicate a
total expenditure of about SO, $1,000
The mileage of concrete construction
on next years program is 426; gravel
surfacing 9O2; miscellaneous types
318. In addition to that gang main
tenanee operations will run to over
1000 miles. Waukesha county will
lead. as she did N 1921, with total
concrete mileage of 81; followed by
Wood county with 4s.75 miles of this
type; Dodge 81 miles; Fond du Lac
80 miles; Brown 80 miles; WaIworth
81 miles; Jefferson 30 miles; Racine
and Washington each % miles: Rock
u miles; Winnebago and Milwaukee
20 miles: and "a group Of other coun-
ties miles and less.
I The query Will arise, what OF the
1928 program, in view of the factthat
the legislature failed to pass the APP
preparation bill making funds avail
able to meet the federal aid In the
sum of 81 So 600, which has been al
loted to Wisconsin for 1923, contiHg-
ent upon the state matching it, The
best judgment seems to be that under
the State Trunk Highway Act of 1917,
the automobile license fees may be
used to meet this federal aid. a legal
opinion determining this matter will
be forthcoming at an early date. Under
this law the operations would be as
follows:
1t may be fairly assumed that the
automobile license collections Ia the
fiscal year ending June 30th, 1922,
will run to cost of administration of
the Secretary OF States Office, estim-
ated at 5000, 900 and one-quarter of the
balance is 10 be distributed among the
counties for the maintenance of county
roads, amounting to s95O,OOo. There
is then set aside sl6s. 900 for the adj
ministration of the state highway de-
partment. Setting aside 81, 750. 900 for
state trunk highway maintenance
would leave balance June Both, 1922
OF 1890, 900. This could be withheld TO
meet half the federal aid allotted to
Wisconsin and an equal amount in
the fiscal year ending June Both, 1923.
BY this arrangement the federal fund
could be met in two year period in
stead OF one and a somewhat modified
program carried on.