Road building is the oldest type of public work in Union County. In
the beginning trails were blazed by hunters' axes and later came wagon trails.
All the men in a vicinity worked together gratis on a road leading to trading
posts and other sources of supply. Later as more roads were needed a small wage
was paid the men who worked on the road and later men worked out their poll
taxes on the roads.
Plank roads came into use about 1850. This road is
discussed in a previous chapter. Following this dirt roads were used. These
roads were graded and made wide enough for conveyances to pass each other. Later
came gravel roads and finally paved roads.
The first gravel roads were
made and maintained by a toll collected from each conveyance which traveled over
them. Toll gates were located between Jonesboro and Ware on that gravel road and
one south of Anna on another road.
The County Highway Department began
the building and maintenance of roads about 1915. State Aid roads began in 1915.
These were established through a resolution by the County Board of Commissioners
designating certain roads to be added to the State Aid system because there was
more traffic on these roads than others. When the location of a road was
designated by the County Board, the plan of the road was sent to the State
Department of Public Works and Buildings thru its district office at Carbondale
for approval. When the state accepted responsibility for granting state aid to
these roads, the county was required to pay one-half the cost of maintaining the
road. Two roads, one two miles east from Dongola and one one mile east from
Cobden were laid out under this plan and the rest of the roads were maintained
by county funds. In 1927 the motor fuel tax law was enacted which allowed the
county one cent of each three collected. Since then the county has had
approximately $18,000 per year from this fund to construct and maintain roads
which are designed to meet the state highway qualifications. Money can be spent
by counties either for contracts or for day labor work disbursed through the
road commissioners.
Up until 1936 much work was done through contracts.
Since 1936 the county has done its own construction work. The county has spent
much of its money for equipment which it rents to the state highway department
at a rate which practically pays for the original purchase price and upkeep of
the machinery. The machinery is then available after being used by the state for
use on the county roads.
The road districts have their own machinery for
work within the district.
Union County now has eighteen miles of road
built with motor fuel tax funds.
A year ago it was decided by the
government that federal aid road constructed by the government and turned back
to the county for maintenance could be maintained by motor fuel tax funds.
Within the last year eight miles of road have been completed and peven more
miles are planned and right-of-way condemnations are being held in court to
carry out this plan.
There are six hundred miles of ordinary public roads
in Union County, one hundred twenty-seven miles of state aid road and fifty-six
miles of concrete roads. Four miles of black-top road is being built out of
state reforestation funds connecting Cobden with the Black Diamond Trail. This
is a scenic view road.
The concrete roads were built and are maintained
by the state.
In 1940 the county road commissioners were Mr. Landis, Mr.
Mcintosh, Mr. Thornton, Mr. Casper, Mr. Stegle, Mr. Barringer, Mr. Norton, Mr.
Lingle, Mr. Bauer, Mr. Orr and Mr. Rendleman. There are eleven districts in the
county. Mr. Loren Hinkle is county Superintendent of Highways. Each commissioner
hires a clerk and a laborer. The rest of the work is done by W. P. A. and relief
labor.
The county owns $20,000 worth of machiney and if this machinery
were not used as it is by the state, the county income from motor fuel tax would
not be sufficient to maintain the county roads. This income would not much more
than keep up the bridges.
Two W. P. A. gravel pits are in operation in
the county. One novamlite pit is in operation near Alto Pass, but this gravel is
used in Jackson county. The gravel from the W. P. A. pits is loaded into county
owned equipment and hauled to all the road districts. Each district pays
fifty-four cents per yard loading cost.
Few counties keep a Highway
Commissioners reports but Mr. Hinkle has compiled a very complete reports which
shows just how much money has been spent and how much work has been completed in
each road district each month and how much money is available to complete the
work of the districts during the year.
A tax levy is made the first of
each September to obtain money to be expended for construction of roads and
bridges, the maintenance of roads and bridges, road drag funds, purchase of
machinery, repairs for machinery, oiling of roads, prevention and extirpation of
weeds, buildings, administration and contingencies.
All tax warrants are
listed in the report so that each district knows just where it is with reference
to the budget all during the year. A record of all bank receipts and balances is
kept, tax money and private work pay, etc., is listed. Also anticipation
warrants are listed to be counted against future income so that the county knows
just how much is available at all times for road work.
During the last
twenty-five years the towns of Union County have improved their streets. Few
streets in any of the towns are without gravel and many are paved.
Most
of the towns have also put in water systems.
The study of personal taxes reveals a number
of things, the prosperity of the county, the standard of living, the percent of
people well-to-do or poor, the types and number of businesses, etc.
Since
1860 personal taxes have increased. In 1860 when the population was 11,145 there
were 2149 persons paid personal taxes which indicates that all these people had
furniture, livestock, stock in trade, etc., amounting to more than fifty
dollars. In 1900, when Union County reached it peak, 22,610 in population, 3,296
people paid personal taxes. In 1939 when population was 19,883, there were 4,539
people paid personal taxes. This indicates that there has been a raising of the
standard of living for almost one-fourth of the taxpayers.
Significant
also is the change in the amount of personal property the well-to-do class pays.
In 1900, eleven individuals paid taxes on between $10,000 and $20,000 worth of
personal property and three paid on $20,000 or more. In 1939 only one individual
listed personal property exceeding $10,000. Corporations such as the Central
Illinois Public Service Corporation, the Bell Telephone Company, the Western
Union Telegraph Company and several chain grocery stores and oil companies and
other companies paid taxes on over $10,000 worth of personal property.
Since it is a well known fact that more than one individual has more than
$10,000 worth of personal property which may or may not be taxable, it would be
inaccurate to leave the impression that individual wealth has decreased as much
as the comparison in taxes between 1900 and 1939 indicates. Since the assessor
is only able to list what he sees if the taxpayer does not choose to tell him
what he owns, many things may be missed in compiling tax lists, and since taxes
have increased, people are more inclined to conceal their wealth than they were
in the past. The county assessor made the statement that if an accurate
assessment could be made, the rate of taxation would be about one-fourth the
amount that is now levied.
In listing personal taxes for businesses, in
1900 seventy-six business houses listed personal property of over $1,000 and six
manufacturers had over $1,000 worth of personal property. The largest
manufacturer listed property worth $5,459.
This practice does not exist
in Union County alone.
In 1939 four manufacturers listed personal
property of over $8,000 and one company paid taxes on $35,505. Fifty-six places
of business listed over $1,000 worth of personal property and there were almost
three times as many businesses listed in 1939 as in 1900. It is possible for
many businesses to operate now on a small amount of stock because of the
availability of new stock to replenish what is sold almost over night.
A
discussion of farm taxes was given in the chapter on the history of agriculture.
Types of businesses have changed to meet the times. Instead of the old
general merchandise stores there are specialized stores, ready-to-wear,
groceries, notions, etc. The harness and wagon manufacturers have been replaced
by garages, automobile and farm implement sales companies. The sale of gasoline
is one of the most numerous of businesses in the county.
In conclusion,
let it be said that Union county, altho handicapped by rather poor soil, has
arisen above its handicaps and has its share of business and comforts. While
there are no extremely wealthy people in the county there are many people who
live well. Our poor people are fewer than in our neighboring counties,
Alexander, Pulaski, Jackson, Williamson and Johnson. The county has produced its
share of brilliant people who have made names for themselves in the fields of
business, politics and education.
Union County is above all, a consistent
county. When a leader is chosen he is backed for long periods of time. This is
indicated by the long tenure of office enjoyed by Monroe C. Crawford, who was
county judge for thirty-two years. Judge Crawford was a very fine type of man
which indicates that Union County stands behind officials of high calibre. In
going over the county records, it is found that most of our officials served for
long periods of time.
Most of the pastors in the county serve their
churches for a number of years and there is not a radical amount of change among
teachers. Many of our business houses belong to people whose fathers and
grandfathers were in the same business before them.
On the whole our
citizens are law abiding. We do not have any more arrests in proportion to our
population than other counties have.
On the whole we are an average
county considering the fact that we excel in some things and do not do so well
in others. Most salesmen visiting the county express themselves as finding Union
County the best business county in this end of the state. Our county was born of
courage and hardship. It grew on the fearless spirit of the pioneer and has
become what it is today.
Flag Pole In Anna
Last year the Anna Chamber of Commerce and the American Legion put up a flag
pole on the Illinois Central park.
This picture shows the initial flag raising ceremonies.
Ben H. Smith of Jonesboro, has been recognized nationally for his fine
poetry. Above is his poem on Abraham Lincoln that has been published
throughout the United States.
He contributes a regular weekly column to The Gazette-Democrat.
International Shoe Factory
Leading industry in Union County is the International Shoe Factory in Anna.
It has been in operation here for the past 10 years.
Hale-Willard Hospital
Formerly a private institution when this picture was taken, The Hale-Willard
hospital is now operated by the City of Anna.
Contributed 11 Sep 2017 by Norma Hass, extracted from History of Union County, by Lulu Leonard, published in 1941.
| Jackson | Williamson | |
| MO |
 |
Johnson |
| Alexander | Pulaski |
