The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1922-06-23
Commissioner OF Highways
Is Speaker Before Cham
Der Of Commerce
APOLOGY MADE FOR NOT
GETTING HERE BEFORE
An Interesting And Instruct
i've Talk Is Given AT
Midweek Session

dress was given at the noon luncheon
Of the chamber of commerce today by
Hon. Leon C. Herrick of Columbus,
director of highways and public works
of the state of Ohio.
Today's program was in charge Of
the Good Roads committee of which
Mr.. w. l.. Robinson is the chairman.
Before introducing the speaker Mr..
Robinson read letter from Senator
w. l.. Alsdorf, executive secretary
of the Ohio Good Roads Federation,
in which that gentleman expressed re-
gret at not being able to accept the
invitation extended him and to join
with Director Herrick at today's meet.
ing. Senator Alsdorf also congratulate.
cd Knox county on it's efficient road
building program and the construc.
ton of the Three C's highway.
Director Herrick at the opening Of
his address said he wanted to apollo.
gize for his failure some time ago in
not getting to Mt. Vernon when he
was to address the chamber Of com.
merce. He said his car was all right,
the driver was all right. but the roads
were bad and that he could not get
through.
Director Herrick stated that he had
no excuses to make for the conduct
of the office, nor defense to make for
what had been done. He only wanted
to outline the policy of the highway
department and touch upon some of
the criticism advanced against that
department. He said he did not be.
lieve that the. general publfG apprect
ated the advantage Of the state gov.
ernment since the reorganization plan
was put into effect. He said there was
absolutely no comparison of the gov.
ernment as previously operated as
compared with the present-and that
he was not speaking for nor against
either of the principal political par.
ties. At present the department of
which he is director is organized into
three divisions, namely, the Division
Of Highways, Division of Public Works
and Division of Public Buildings and
Lands. Last year the highway depart
ment constructed 1925 miles of i'm
proved highways. These were all first
class highways and three times more
miles were constructed last year than
in any previous year. Thirty-six mil
lion dollars were expended last year
for road construction. Previous to
the present administration, the speak
er said, there was no one responsible
in the construction department and
the state had hit and miss system
of road building.
The first thing the highway depart.
ment did was to select seven roads
and complete them-roads that be.
gan at some place and ended some
place. The roads selected for compile.
ton were the Buffalo Chicago road,
Lincoln Highway, National road, Dixie
Highway, Scioto Trail, Cleveland and
Mariett Road and the Three C's high.
way. This year will witness the con-
struction of every inch of those roads
from state line to state line.
The state levies one-half mill an
nually for highway purposes. Last
year this levy produced five millions
of dollars. Seventy-five percent OF
that amount was distributed equally
to the So counties of the state and
twenty-five per cent went to mainten-
ance of main market roads. Political
influence, the speaker said, in great
degree had controlled the distribution
of the money received from the Ma
tional government for state road build.
ing. Under the present system the
distribution is fair and equitable to
all counties. Seventy-seven of the
counties of the state receive more
funds back from the state than they
pay in. Less than &c of every dollar
goes to pay engineering costs in the
highway department, the balance goes
into good roads.
There are 10000 miles in the state
system of roads. To maintain these
roads last year the total cost was
twelve millions of dollars, nine mil.
lions for maintenance and three mil
lions for construction. Director Her.
rick said the departments entire road
building program for this year would
be sold by July 1. The seasons pro-
gram embraced 900 miles. In closing
the speaker paid nice compliment to
Knox county, its commissioners and
engineer He said the county always