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

Both in retrospect and in prospect
those interested in the road movement
may feel cheerful at the breaking of
the years 1921 and 1922. Looking back
ward. they will note that the former
year marks the greatest progress
made il highway improvements in
the history of the state. and 1922
shows program of unusual magn.-
tude.
1t is impossible at this time to
predict anything definite for the year
of 1923 on account Of the somew hat
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
i. the fact that e8 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 so. 220, 900. OF
this total 2,227 miles were surfaced
and on 1913 miles the operations were
limited TO grading.
The total mileage of concrete sur
facing was $40, at cost of SO. s50, eco;
gravel 973 miles costing s., 020 600;
macadam 81 miles $3.50 800 and mis-
cellaneous types 229 miles costing
SSO4 900.
An equally bright outlook faces us
/ for 1922. Although complete figures
are not available, they indicate a
total expenditure of about s19, SOC. 90.
The mileage of concrete construction
on next years program is 1926; gravel
surfaeing 902; miscellaneous types
I 318. In addition to that gang main
tenanee operations will run to over
/ 1000 miles. Waukesha county will
lead. as she did in 1921, with total
concrete mileage of 50; followed by
! Wood county with 1913 miles of this
| type; Dodge 81 miles; Fond du Lac
80 miles; Brown 50 miles; Walworth
! 81 miles; Jefferson 30 miles: Racine
and Washington each % miles: Rock
Il miles; Winnebago and Milwaukee
/ 20 miles; and IA group of other coun-
/ ties miles and less.
! The query will arise, what of the
1928 program, in view of the factthat
the legislature failed to pass the ap-
I preparation bill making funds avail
able to meet the federal aid IN the
/ sum of 81 .S75 600, which has been al
loted TO Wisconsin for 1928, 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:
F. 1t may be fairly assumed that the
automobile license collections IN the
fiscal year ending June both, 1922,
Will run TO cost OF ADM nlstratlon OF
the Secretary of States Office. estim-
ated at $500, 900 and one-quarter of the
balance is TO be distributed among the
counties for the maintenance of county
roads, amounting to 1850, 900. There
is then set aside sl6s 900 for the adj
ministratioh of the state highway de-
partment. Setting aside 81 ,75O. 900 for
State trunk highway maintenance
would leave balance June Both, 1922
of 1880, 900. This could be withheld to
meet half the federal aid allotted to
Wisconsin and an equal amount in
the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1923.
By this arrangement the federal fund
could be met in two year period in
stead OF one and somewhat modified
program carried on.