Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-01-09

requires that two-thirds of the tax
shall be expended prior to the 1st
of July. During the month of
June our roads are loosened up with
the pillow, and left in the very best
possible condition to be washed out
by the July rains. This has been
repeated year after year until many
of our roads have become frst-class
bitches, through which the poor
beast in wet weather must struggle
in the tenacious, sticky clay that
lines the bottom, and in dry weather
swelter through dust and heat.
These roads are utterly at the mercy
of the weather, become passable or
impossible according to it, and are
entirely out of keeping with the en-
lightenment and intelligence of the
people, who through apathy patient
ly endure this state of affairs.
MAKING ROADS.
Unless roads are made frst-class
to commence with you can never
have them, and the money you in
vest in them is thrown away. There
has probably been expended in Iowa
county enough money or its equiva-
lent, time, to have macadamized and
made first class every road in the
county, had it been properly applied.
The first requisite of a good road is
a dry roadbed. The most destruct-
i've element we have to contend
with in maintaining roads is water
Therefore we must see to it that the
roadbed has a good drainage. The
roadbed should never be less than
% feet in width, with a convexity
sufficient to carry the rainfalIs into
the bitches which should be upon
each side. Guard against grading
the road too high. The convexity
in no case should exceed one inch
to the foot. If possible cover the
grading with loan. If the drainage
is thorough there will be but a very
limited time in the Year but that the
roads will be passable for reasonable
loads.
MAINTAINING ROADS.
Having our road made, we must
not expect to keep it in repair by
working at it but one month in the
year, and neglecting it the other
eleven. Does the c., NJ. & St. P.
KY keep up its system of roads by
putting force of men on in the
spring to ballast up the track and
then neglect it the rest of the year?
Certainly not. Men are kept con-
stantiy at work, upon the economic
principle that, "a stitch in time
saves nine," and this is the principle
that we should adopt if we wish to
improve Onr roads.
A four mill tax upon the assessed
valuation of Iowa county would
keep one hundred and twelve men
and fourteen teams at work (at the
same per diem allowed for working
highway taxes) from the LIST of May
until the LIST of November. Or il
would give to each town in the
county a labor force of eight men
and one team to be kept constantly
making and repairing roads. AT
the end of the season we would by
using improved road-making ma,
chinery have a showing of ten miles
of good roads in each town, or a
total of one hundred and forty miles
In the county.
We must get out of the Anticipated
way in which we have been working
our roads, and step up abreast of the
progress of the age in which we
live. Abolish the district system,
levy and collect the highway tax
with other town taxes, expend the
money through a road commissioners
appointed by the supervisors with
reference to his fitness, and let him
do the work under their supervision
keeping small force at work
during the spring and fall months.
If 1t is economy that restraints il
is false economy. Every day thai
our roads remain in an impossible
condition is a direct blow at our
own interests. Good roads mean g
regular distribution of products
and consequently no cessation OF
business, or no "hard times" They
are the sign of contentment and
permanent improvement. The taxes
would return in the improved con-
dltlOn of the stock and running
gear; in the increased loads that
could be taken to market; circula-
ton which is the back bone of bust
ness would be facilitated, and where
now it is hazard and task to
venture on the public highway, it
would become pleasure.
The following resolution, introduced
by 7. j. VanMatre, was unanimously
adopted by the meeting:
Resolved, by the citizens assembled
at the city of Mineral Point, that the
members of the legislature of the state
of Wisconsin, be respectfully requested
to so amend our highway laws that
highway taxes be levied and the
amount collected and expended under
competent supervision.
WHY TIE BOYS LEAVE TIE FARM
This was the subject assigned to John
c Martin, and he treated it in an able
and fearless manner, and assigned
what he believed to be the true causes
of the present agricultural depression
and dissatisfaction with farm work
and farm life; stated that farmers
vastly outnumber any other class, and
are responsible for the bad condition
of affairs, as they hold the remedy
the ballot--in their own hands.
GUTTER MAKING ON THE FARM"
Thomas Convey gave very inter
esting and important talk upon this
subject; quality before quantity, he
said, should be the aim of butter
makers; the careful and intelligent