State Bond Issue Road System [State of Illinois]

A call to action to support the first state highway system in Illinois.

This fascinating map vividly diagrams the State Bond Issue Routes across Illinois – the first official highway system in the Land of Lincoln. The Federal Aid Road Act of 1916 authorized some government funds for road construction, but this proposal includes the majority of construction costs to be financed though a series of bonds, with principal and interest to be paid by motor vehicle registration fees.

A summary of the terms is provided in the lower left, which also indicates the presence of the proposition on the upcoming ballot. Within the image, each town of any significance affected by the proposed routes are labeled – a clever method to maximize audience interest (and corresponding support).

Given the popularity of the automobile, it’s unsurprising to learn the measure passed. The year prior to publication, Illinois had the second highest number of registered vehicles of any state at around 340,000 (just 6,000 fewer than Ohio). Published in Chicago in 1918 by Rand McNally.

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