Road-Widening Procedure for
Super-Highways in the
Milwaukee Region

MILWAUKEE, WIS.-Painted signs along all the principal county highways, with legends like that shown in the accompanying photograph, testify to the preparations which Milwaukee County is making for the super-highways of the future.

It was recognized that, as the city of Milwaukee and its suburbs grew, the county highways would become more and more congested unless the highways now 66 or less feet wide were increased to a width which would take care of the future traffic. Widths of from 90 to 160 feet were decided upon for the important state and county trunk lines outside the limits of incorporated cities and villages. Other roads which are heavily traveled are also included in the list of highways to be widened.

The cooperation of property owners and subdividers with the County Highway Commissioner has made the highway-widening program possible. Where wider rights of way have been procured, the property has been dedicated by the owners rather than purchased. They have appreciated the fact that better and wider highways increase the value of property and that it is expensive and unsatisfactory to widen streets to take care of heavy

traffic after buildings have been erected.

In Milwaukee County this work of planning for wider highways is done by the Regional Planning Department, of which E. A. Howard is Supervising Engineer. This department is under the supervision of W. F. Cavanaugh, Highway Commissioner and Planning Engineer. One of the chief duties of the department is to advise realtors platting subdivisions and to suggest to them how to lay out the streets, etc.

When the plan to widen the principal highway arteries in the county was first suggested, it was found that the subdividers were willing to set new buildings back and to dedicate the land necessary to widen the highway, if they could be assured that others would do likewise. Accordingly, in 1925 a bill was drafted and passed the Legislature authorizing the County Board to establish the widths of highways in excess of the widths then in use, if the Town Boards approved the plan.

The Milwaukee County Board passed an ordinance in June, 1926, specifying the widths of highways. All seven Town Boards in the county ratified it. After this approval, a certified copy of the ordinance with maps was filed in the office of the Register of Deeds, as required by law. The highway-widening provisions, therefore, are in every abstract of land sold which abuts the highways to be widened.

The highway-widening ordinance does not constitute a taking of land or interference with private rights. It is a declaration of intention as to the proposed future width of the highway. The only time property is affected is when the owner wishes to subdivide or build.

When subdividing, street widths must be provided as specified in the ordinance or the plat cannot be recorded. When buildings are erected, the owners are advised to keep the structures back of the established line.

The ordinance_relating to highway widening is a popular one. Exact figures are not available at this time, but it was stated at the office of the Highway Commissioner that from 30 to 40 miles of highway have already been dedicated to the county for highway widening. Other counties of the state are asking that the law be amended so that they, too, can plan now to widen their highways in the future.

While the signs are posted now, the actual widening of the road surface will be done only when traffic makes it necessary. A right-of-way of 90 feet will provide room for two street-car zones of 10 feet each, and two traffic lanes in each direction, of 10 feet each, leaving 15 feet on either side for sidewalks and planting. Highways 110 feet wide will have two additional lanes of 10 feet each, making three lines of traffic in each direction, in addition to the two street-car zones of 10 feet each. Highways 120 feet wide may have the same number of lanes of traffic as those 110 feet wide, but

cost $10,000; municipal airport, 390 acres, cost $100,000; and the new Main Street bridge, cost $110,000. The city has also been carrying on improvements designed to give Kalamazoo a sewage disposal plant and all connections in about five years. It is very likely that this program will be carried out without a bond issue.

When it is stated that a city is running on a "payas-you-go" policy, the next thing to be considered is whether it is accumulating a deficit of public improvements or whether it is keeping pace with the times. Kalamazoo has been keeping pace.

The public school system of the city is operated as an independent political unit. With regard to the school system, the public debt is about average-$45 per capita.

From these figures, it will be seen that the city debt is about $3.85 per capita.

EARL S. WEBER, Secretary, Chamber of Commerce.

Flower-Boxes Adorn the Bridges of St. Marys

ST. MARYS, OHIO.-The accompanying photograph shows one of the many flower-boxes that have been placed upon the caps of the concrete posts of both the river and canal bridges in this city.

ONE OF THE FLOWER-BOXES GIVEN TO ST. MARYS, OHIO, BY A PUBLIC-SPIRITED CITIZEN

The boxes are 31 inches long, 13 inches wide, and 11 inches deep, and are made of cast iron. They are painted a light shade of Ducò green, with the floral designs or embossed portions in yellow and

black. In them are planted geraniums, asparagus vines, and Vinca, which harmonize beautifully with the color scheme of the boxes.

Both the boxes and the plants were donated to the city by Albert Herzing, one of the publicspirited citizens of this community. The plants were taken from Mr. Herzing's own private flower garden.

The boxes, with their contents, are very attractive and add a touch of color and beauty to the appearance of the entire street as well as to the bridges. The idea has created such a favorable impression that many surrounding cities are adopting the plan. ROBERT F. KASER, Secretary-Manager, St. Marys Chamber of Com

merce.

BENCHES INVITE ONE TO REST ALONG PATHS THROUGH THIS GARDEN IN JOPLIN, MO. A garden scene along the lower part of the building wall blends with the actual park. Note the unusual bird-house in the lower picture

A Bakery Helps Beautify Its City

JOPLIN, MO.-It should be as important to make the grounds surrounding the industrial plants in our cities, as it is desirable to make the home grounds, spots of beauty and pleasure. Any manufacturing plant might take a lesson from the little park developed by this bakery in Joplin. A garden scene has been painted on the side wall of the bakery building and it blends in with the garden in an interesting manner. The wise use of lumber in the making of benches which invite one to rest along the paths in the little park is an interesting feature of this type of utilitarian advertising. A large number of birds find, every summer, a number of unusual houses perched high up from the ground to choose from. Graceful latticed arches add a touch of refinement to the garden with their bright, clean lines.

ALLEN P. CHILD.

Vitrified Brick Strips Make Slippery
Pavement Safe

N front of the City Hall at Cleveland, Ohio, the pavement becomes very slippery when wet. Pedestrians on their way to and from the City Hall, and the policemen serving in front of the City Building, frequently have had narrow escapes because automobiles were unable to stop when the traffic signal was suddenly turned against them. As a safety first measure, J. D. Tomson, Superintendent of Streets, hit upon the scheme of removing strips of the old pavement several feet apart and inserting sections of vitrified paving brick surface. City officials report that skidding has been reduced to a minimum since this improvement was made, according to Dependable High

ways.

Citizens Cooperate in Support of Shooting Competition by Police

MUNCIE, IND.-In keeping with its tradition of always doing something, Muncie has decided to fall in line with other cities that are teaching their policemen better shooting. It is indisputable that if the police are to carry revolvers for the protection of themselves and of those they serve, they should be able to shoot effectively. Some cities are offering added pay, graduated according to marksmanship attained; others have allowed time off each month, additional vacation, etc. In common with other towns, public interest was lacking here, and there were no funds available for ammunition. The way the problem was solved may be helpful to other cities.

The Mayor asked a member of the National Rifle Association to coach the men. A range was established in the basement of the new city building, and practice was started in the fall. In February the editors of the daily papers and a few of the key-men of the larger mercantile institutions were called into a meeting, and were told what had been done and what was in contemplation; that funds should properly be provided by taxation, but that it would be impossible to get them into the budget unless the citizens were interested. It was proposed to arouse interest by calling upon the citizens to make an investment in the plan through voluntary contributions to a fund for the purchase of ammunition and prizes for a tournament.

This met the approval of all. A folder was mailed out, referring to the papers for details and asking that those who cared to support the move fill out the folder and return it with pledges. Within a few days about $400 in money and more than $165 worth of merchandise were collected. Much interest is displayed, by the attendance at the matches and the way the public is talking of the shoot and watching its progress. The policemen

have improved in their shooting; contests with the National Guard have been arranged, and it is hoped that matches with the police departments of other towns may be held. LESTER C. BUSH, Secretary, Muncie Chamber of Commerce.

City Electric Plant Brings Lower Rates VERNON, TEXAS.-In 1922, when this city had a population of 6,000 to 7,000 people, as compared with about twice that number at present, we were supplied with electric light and power entirely by an outside corporation, which also made and sold ice. We were paying 15 cents per kilowatt-hour for electricity, and 90 cents per hundred pounds for ice. We had tried to obtain lower rates but were told that the company could not afford to offer them. At last the idea of competition was suggested and met with very general favor; a bond issue of $100,000 was voted, three to one, on January 10, 1922. The company thereupon reduced the price of ice to 60 cents, and also obtained a temporary injunction against the city. The people seemed disheartened at this, and matters were at a standstill until late in the year, when the Mayor proposed a new plan. The city had in its vaults an old issue of 5 per cent water-works bonds, amounting to $25,000, that it had been unable to sell at par, and that could not legally be sold for less. An arrangement was made with a machinery company to buy these bonds at par, in consideration of which, fact the city agreed to purchase certain machinery from this company.

... The owners of the old plant became desperate. Injunction after injunction was filed only to be denied; petty annoyances were resorted to; our water system was temporarily tied up. Other expedients were brought into play to defeat us, but to no avail.

The city began business with a 10-cent rate for lighting current and 5 cents for power, with a

sliding scale for large users of light or power; and the rates have never changed. When we started business, the company cut its rate to 8 cents; but service applications and connections to the city system were rapidly being made. In a few months the company's rate went down to 5 cents. This proved to be a boomerang; for on the day the cut was announced we got 30 customers from the company and lost none. After about a year at 5 cents, the company's rate went back to 8 cents.

Increased business has caused us to make several additions to our plant capacity. Our bookkeeper states that the number of our patrons increased 40 per cent from April 30, 1926, to April 30, 1927. We estimate that about 75 per cent of the total business of the city is handled by our plant. We believe in efficient service, and do not know what "shut down" means. We have a chief engineer with three men under him who work in eighthour shifts; there are also a head electrician and three linemen. Gross receipts average $4,818 a month and expenses about $1,650, leaving a gross profit of about $38,000 a year. All additions have been made from earnings. Income from the plant has also been used for other expenses of the city, and Vernon enjoys an exceptionally low tax rate-$1.75 per hundred, including $1.00 school tax.

About a year ago the company offered the city $250,000 spot cash for the plant and obtained an order for an election. It was rejected three to one. I believe we could get $500,000 for it, and that the offer would be turned down by the same margin, for ample reason. I estimate that our patrons save $31,500 a year, and the remaining patrons of the company save $10,800 a year, in comparison with the old rates. The city also saves $14,520 a year on street lighting and water pumping, which, added to the saving to citizens totals

City Hall Design Selected by Architectural Competition Method

DULUTH, MINN.-After four years of unsuccessful effort in attempting to obtain a design for a new city hall which could be built for the money available, the Duluth City Commission finally conducted an architectural competition which resulted so successfully that the scheme bids fair to become an established practice for this city.

In 1922 the city employed the services of an architect to draw plans and specifications for a new City Hall, and specified that the cost of construction should not exceed $1,000,000. The plans eventually submitted called for a building estimated to cost about $1,500,000, though by employing cheaper materials and leaving certain portions unfinished the architect estimated that the total cost might be reduced to $1,250,000.

The general public and the Commissioners believed that a million dollars should be ample for a building adequate for Duluth's needs, and the contract with the architect was terminated.

Thereupon, the City Commission requested the Taxpayers' League, which is a bureau for municipal research in Duluth, to make a study of the space needed for each of the various city departments, and to prepare a schedule of requirements and facilities, so that a competition might be conducted for the selection of the architect and an appropriate design.

The competition program stated the offices to be housed in the proposed building, and specified the