Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 96, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 April 1919 — W. L. WOOD ANSWERS BAB. [ARTICLE]

W. L. WOOD ANSWERS BAB.

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE BY OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE Editor Babcock seems to think he has discovered something new and novel with the highway laws in the state of Indiana, and in his article in the issue of his paper, springs what he evidently conceives to be a great surprise in advising the people in general and the lawyers in particular that they are entirely ignorant of the provisions of this law. He explains at great length that the County Unit law makes no provision for state and federal aid and says that on that account the petition recently filed for a highway north and south through Jasper county should be withdrawn. He also takes this occasion to say that Representative Wood, who is a member of the legislature that enacted the law, is not familar with it and is mistaken as to its provisions. If Mr. Babcock had read Section one (1) of the County Unit law, he would not have made this statement. : lit is true that the County Unit law makes no provisions by which state and federal aid may be solicited by petition or otherwise, it is also true that the state highway commission law contains no provision fbr consulting the several counties as to where it will locate the highways under its stpervision that law merely providing that the state highway commission shall as soon as practicable, lay out a systeip of highways connecting the county seats and cities of five thousand (5000) people throughout the State of Indiana. The peculiarity about the whole matter, however, is that Mr. Babcock has evidently very recently, learned of some of these provisions, but did not know that the attorneys and others who are promoting the nort hand south, highway through Jasper county have been familiar with these laws and all of their provisions, for a considerable length of time and that Mr. Wood, and those associated with him, in the preparation and presentation of this petition have been in touch with the state highway Commission, during ail of the time the matter has been in progress, and I have the assurance of the commission that their highway will be considered favorable by the commission. Following is a letter directed to Mr. John A. Dunlap, the attorney associated with Mr. Wood, in the proposed improvement from which it will be seen, that these attorneys knew the manner of proceedure long before Mr. Babcock’s article appeared. - _ March 29, 1919. Mr. John A. Dunlap, Rensselaer, Indiana.

Dear Sir: * The state highway commission will be very glad to f urnish assistants and aid you in any way that they can. You would certainly want expert supervision on this kind of a road and wte would endeavor to send you a high grade man. - _ In regard to designating this road as a part of the state highway system, that will be up to the commission. It might be well after the appointment of the commission that you bring this matter to their attention, I think you should have more than a fine chance of securing this designation. If at any time I can serve you feel free to call upon me. Very truly yours, L. H. WRIGHT. An examination of the petition on file will also disclose that the same was drawn containing a provision that the details as to plans and specifications for the improvement have been left, subject to the approval of the state highway commission. The proceadure followed in this matter is the only one provided for by law and the proposed improvement is progressing nicely, having met with no opposition, except Mr. Babcock’s article and inasmuch as very one is in favor of this improvement even Mr. Babcock who signed the petition, there will be no probability that any one will take the article published in the Democrat, seriously and dismiss this petition. We are reliably informed that Mr. Wood and his associates in this project, now have the assurance that a representative of the state highway commission will be in Rensselaer, and meet with them and go over the proposed route of this highway next week, with idea in mind of considering the same as a part of the state •highway connecting in Indiana, the route from Indianapolis to Chicago. Mr. Wood has been communicating with the State Highway Commission ever since he returned from the legislature and feels assured that the work has not been in vain.