South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-08-03
NORTH RIVER ROAD,
PUBLIC Utility,
WILL JOIN CITIES
Council Paves Way for Con.
structiOn ~ Allow Def
cheney" Appropriations.

cheney" Appropriations.
Relief from conges,ed traffic con
ditions on the Lincoln highway be
tween South Bend and Elkhart IS
foreseen as the result OF the action
OF the county council Wednesday
morning in eliminating legal en-
tanglements which have heretofore
prevented construction OF a north
river road.
The county council authorized a
resolution declaring the North
River or Ear Trail road a public
utility, a step which in 1920 was
not done and held up the contract
for the Improvement OF the road
at that time
Begin Work Soon.
Present indica lions are that con-
struotion work will be begun immedi-
ately BIZ the Reith-Riley ConstruC-
ton Co. Of Goshen. holders OF the
original contract. For the contract
price OF s133,274. made in 1920, the
construction company viii build a
road Is feet wide instead Of 16 as
originally specified. and widen tho
present IA foot highway from The
west limits OF Mishawaka 10 -
feet.
The Elkhart county commission
ers this week auth Orized the improve
ment OF the North River road from
Elkhart city limits east 10 the St
Joseph county line 10 be improved
with concrete al width Of rs fee.
The St. Joseph county commission
ers indicated that the road bed
would be changed from Is 10 is feet
to conform with the highway lead
ing out of Elkhart and making an
other direct link between the two
cities.
Old Contract Stands.
The present IA foot road bed in
this county which extends from the
west city limits of Mishawaks to
the Kennedy school house east Of
that city will be widened 20 IS feet
at a cost of 50 per lineal foot, ac-
cording to the proposition submitted
to the county commissioners by the
Reith- Riley Construction Co.
Whether the contract Of 1920
made at a time when prices were
at peak was offset by the proposal
to bid a roadbed two feet wider than
originally specified without addi-
tiOnal expense was a source of de-
bate. Noah c. Lehman, county
commissioner, present at the council
meeting declared it to be his belief
that the extra two feet would COM
pensate for the increased cost. Mr..
Reith also explained that the cost
OF the Is foot roadbed at 1922 prices
would compare fabOrably with cost
would compare favorably with cost
In view OF the councils action the
county commissioners are expected
10 accept the construction COM
pany's proposition and authorize
work to be begun Immediately, one
OF the contingencies Of the proposal
Consider Budgets.
The county council met Wednes-
day morning to consider deficiency
appropriations for various county
departments. In several instances
they compared deficiency appropri-
atoms of this year with last AMI
where larger amounts were sought
they called in the heads Of various
departments for an explanation.
In considering the cost of ap-
praisal OF Portage township, the
council authorized Auditor Clarence
Sedgewick to seek comparative
cost OF this work from the state
board OF accounts for cities of sim
liar size TO South Bend.
MT nj
lowed. follow: recorder for new
typewriters and deputies S1,222,
sheriff for additional deputies So
600. surveyor for mileage, deputies,
new car. etc. $500, Penn township
assessor $500; Portage township as
SCISSOR S2351.5O; Union township
1872: board Of review $50: Portage
township trustee for expense OF
poor $500; Comfort station plumb
ing. $4,000: Jackson road bridge in
Penn township. $500; Leaf road
bridge between Madison and Penn
townships. $4,000: Albright road
bridge in Liberty township. $4,000;
Yetter bridge in Liberty township.
$4,000: Taylor Greek bridge in Lin
coin township. $500; $4,000 mis-
ceIlaneous supplies court house;
$4,000 for orphans home TO meet
expense OF Juvenile court work
$500 public printing; Highway
viewers. $50; game warden, SIS;
Circuit court jury and bailiff, cost,
$4,000: Superior court No. 1 baiiif
cost, $1,000; Superior court No. >
bailiff and special judges. $4,000.
Meet In September.
Several OF the bridges authorized
will replace Anticipated structures
which failed 10 withstand the in
creased water as result Of dredging
OF the mammoth Place ditch which
runs through Liberty and lincoln
townships.
Michael Henley. township~trustee,
n seeking an additional appropr!-
, alton Of $500 for his office. ex-
planned that at least $4,000 OF this
was for books for school children
under the new compulsory education
Law More unemployment existed
early in the winter than was be-
( lieved. he told the councilmen.
The council will meet in an al
/ jCurned session. Sept 3.