Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 92, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 April 1919 — ENTHUSIASTIC ROAD MEETING [ARTICLE]

ENTHUSIASTIC ROAD MEETING

MONTICELLO JOURNAL SAYS WHITE COUNTY HAS HIGH HOPES. - - yr A very enthusiast! ce and largely attended road meeting was held at Monticello Wednesday evening. L. H. Wright, who is to be the director of the new State Highway Commission, recently appointed by Governor James P. Goodrich, as provided by a law enacted 'by the last legislature, made . the principal address. Mr. Wright very clearly explained the new laws, stating that the expense of the roaids-improved under this law was borne half by the federal government and half by the state. There is no direct taxation upon the county through which these roads are built. This year the federal fund contains two and one-half million dollars which may be used in building roads over the state. The state fund for this purpose contains about a million and one-half dollars. According to Mr. Wright the system of highways over Indiana which is being -planned by the commission will coyer about three thousand miles. It is estimated that about one hundred miles will be built this year and about four hundred in 1920. It is thought that the total fund available next year will be about ten million dollars. Mr. Wright emphasized the fact that the people must not become in a hurry to get the road in their community constructed as it will probably be six to eight years befor the whole system is completed. .He said that he felt sure that Monticello would be on the route which was laid out by the commission. According to the law this system of roads must connect county seats and main market highways. It is estimated that the cost Will be about twenty-one thousand dollars per mile and the entire system will therefore cost about one-hundred million dollars. People gathered at the White county capital were interested in the proposed road from Fort Wayne to the state line, .passing through the following towns in this community: Monticello, Remington and Kentland. This meeting was attended- by County Commissioner Charles A. Welch and A. I. Putt, of Carpenter township. The former was appointed a member of a committee to assist tin looking after this route. Mr. Wright also explained the county unit law, which has been so confusing to most people. Up until the time this law was passed by the recent legislature the townships were compelled to pay for their roads as a unit. Under this law the wohle county is assessed for the road although it may be in one township. - The object of the county unitl aw is to stimulate the building of roads,which are of public untility. The law provides that the county commissioners are the viewers of the road and they must report whether or not the road is a public untility, If they report the road of public utility, the auditor of the county must call a meeting of the county council within five days and the county council then proceeds to view the road, examine the (petition and determine whether or not the improvement contemplated and recommended by the commissioners will be of public utility. If the county council decides, by a mapority vote, the improvement reported by the "Commissioners, is of public utility, then the board must proceed under the provisions of the county unit law. But if the county council decides it is not of public utility, further proceedings are at an end. The law provides that the county may issue bonds and built roads up to not more than two percent of the assessed valuations but it . provides two checks against the building of useless roads, the board ,of county commissioners and the county council. Either of these bodies can stop the proceedings if in its judgement, the road is not of public utility.