Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-12-20
ROADS GIVE c. Of c.
IMPORTANT I Optic
Of GENERAL DEBATE:
MEMBERSHIP DIVIDED oVER
OVER ROUTE wv WAY WILL
TAKE INTO clTY-sTATE's SIDE
PRESENTED BY CHIEF ENeIN.
EER. !"
BY Leo carrolI, SECRETARY c Of c.

last UleHl! hHll, HfIt az ~" W 'll'
things that appear on the minutes Of
the meetiqg .,'
Ottawa-Stroator road viii be opened
tomorrow, Dee. 81 The 9th st, bridge.
az La Sale, Is nearly completed and
Will be opened as soon as the iloor
fl ready and the abutment filling IS
in.
- A. complete Reconnaissance has been
made OF all roads and routes leading
north from Ottawa for tho purpose OF
locating the best route for the pro-
posed concrete road to be constructed
IN that direction.
The state Highway Department, in
marking their roads, will mark one
route through each city town and
village and the road signs when com.
pleted will give warning, tell direction,
distance and route number.
Plans will leave the Office in Spring
field in short time and bids will be
called for the Joint paving OF the South
side road. The east hard road will
enter Ottawa over Superior ST., If the
sentiment expressed at the meeting
can be carried out.
sf - axe Up IVY way Vootcs
HsThe meeting was attended by fair
sized delegation OF business and pro
fessional meh, who were much interest
ed in the various questions brought
up for discussion. NJ. Flemming, dis
trict superintendent OF the road de-
partnent made very clear and In
ferestine talk on the engineering prob
lens to be considered in the two pro-
posed routes. In his opening remarks,
he said:
81 am not a prophet and can offer
no new ideas or arguments, but Will
try to outline the things that enter
into road construction as viewed by
the State Highway Department. There
are four subdivisions TO consider in
locating a road; utility, safety, econ
omv. and beauty.
Utility. applying To- the short route
that will eliminate hazards and make
the road as useful for the public as
nossible. Safety means to locate curves
with sight distance OF FIVE hundred
feet or more and carefully construct
'verticle curves mp aud down, TO make
it possible for approaching vehicles "a
avoid accidents II also has to do with
the building of fences. warning signs
and curbinG
~ Economy of course means that the
road is to he constructed at the lowest
possible cost when comparisons have
lbeen made With other features and
after#a careful survey and estimate
of grades, material. side.entrances, cul-
xerts. haul and prices has been check
ed up.
$3.50 ~ Beauty Is A Factor.
%Sf}eauiy applies to locating road
at6ag scenic places where 1t does not
infetscrei@ith the general plan of road
buildfng. "iE.
y He then took Zip the two proposed
entrances into Ottawa from the east
and dwelt at length with the various
conditions. The Main street route has
bean suggested by someone: but to
bling the road in that street It would
neeeasitate the moving OF the G, O.
and p. tracks To the South at the east
end of Main st. and the expense would
Have to be horn by the interniban
Grlthe city. h1emming stated that in
afsecking I'M the distance OF the two
routes he hes found tina, there Is about
four .terittfs OF . mile difference and
Tits It'll favor Of the east side entrance.
sEip1.rnes were useh TO show the econ
oplg in car operation In year, that
Nhsild be effected over this highway,
but ii was clearly pointed out that
the saving WdNla not he, made 10 the
city ue Ottawa Tho same comparisons
were 3yinadein pointing ont the REQUIRE
tnents for payips sunerior ST. and
building u new bridge which in the
oniniany OF tthn Highway department
would. not justly, at this time the con-
strnetlor ofs tie road that wav. He
atsn stated tktt It wn''Id cost The state
$4,000 more ID hiHld the east side
entranaetroad to the city limits. as
compared to the cost along the canal
rnlte to- the former city limits on
Green street. This does not inelnde
the 4rasrchasa Of a, Fightfof way thru
thelelav beds which would have to be
purchased hY the county, township,
city or local organizations.
Argue Pro And Con.
4Then followed q lively display of
cross examination. questions, compar-
icons and ar8nments Sharp turns. from
the white bridge through the city was
an iriipoftant factor to debate aud
when final comparisons We're made,
there did not seem to be much diff
ference In either route, IL it was con-
coded that the new road north OF The
river is. TO be built along the County
house route. Ii was generally agreed
that the east side pavement, which is
OF light construction, would not last
longer than year and the cost TO
ro-pave would he aroand $1,000 Flen-
ming again compared figures to show
that car owners would save in . year
anu amonnt nearly equal 10 this ex-
pense. when the four tenths Of mile
saving. on basis OF three thousand
cars per clay. was considered, but the
paving would have to be paid by the
east sitiers and the city. The arsu-
ment was made that the east side did
+, not want the road, the business men
from Madison, North, did not desire
the east entrance and the Superior st,
people did want the routing and had
pptitioncd TO have their street paved.
While. there was no action taken, it
was practically agreed that the road
ldiyfsionAof the. Chamber OF Commerce
would devote their efforts towards Sc
curing a new bridge near the aquaduct.
try trEbasteu thn nayiug of SIfuprior ST