Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-04-11


the one hand and the scope of his duty
on the other and it is at such times that
his wisdom and power may be best dis
played.
NO TOWNSHIP, BRIDGES.
This is the lime of the year When the
failures and siiortcemings Of our pres
sft system Or road Work appear ths
most glarins. As spring begins the
prairie road is disclosed, Worn, and cu
and in places washed away by the hars
usage combined with neglect ii has
received during the winter months. AS
soon as the frost is out of the ground
teams With scrapers and graders should
be at work putting the highways
repair. but undci. the present system
There is no one TO do8it as the farmers
are all busy. Not a man can stop
minute from his farming TO do roa
work. The roads must Wait until Aug:
Just or September. If road taxes were
Ipaid in cash and road districtsscnlarg
an expert roa dnlaker could be emptoyeJ
10 work the roads when they need ii
lnost. He would now be putting them
lin shape to Withstand the spring rains
Land farmers would not nerd 20 hitch
flour horses to an empty wa gon 10 ;se,
to town fer a new ploS or Il piosy point
Each session, Of the legislature has
Zone or two road bills discussed, but the
average legislator has not vet realized
tine need for reform in this line and
There is always SO much rivalry ia tte
plan suggested that nonesis able TO Sc
cure support enough to become a law,
i However, here and there We find ener
getic, progressive farmers. experiment.
ing in road building and many excellent
1Eideas have found practical test. y
case in point IS the work done by Mr.
II. r. Bookman. living in Poweshieli
4 county, a few miles east Of NeWburE.
Mr.. Bookman is one of the most sue
I.cessful farmers in this state. He owns
4 La section Of very valuable land. every
4 acre of which has been made tiilable
8by tile drains which Mr.. Baokman has
4 laid with his own hands.
Realizing that the open ditch across
Z a road is a nuisance and the small cul-
Vert or township bridge useless ex-
travagance. Mr.. Bookman tried til,
a darining on the road which runs alont
q the north line of his farm. His plar
vas 10 run a string Of tile along eacf
side ofthe slough or stream, carrying j
q under the road and on thru the mex
4 mans farm If he so desired. In tina
RI way the water was carried off and TIL,
u Eroad could be gradedu without regard
/ so such small water courses. The plai
worked remarkably we'll and Mr. Book
Z man is ready to recommend it to al
3 Farmers who have any thing to do witt
Iroad building. His experiments hay,
) continued for some twelve years and h
= feels satisfied that the trial has beel
81 thorough.
j The township bridge is a constant ex
pense to the community but what j
r worse we notice as time passes tina
othey are growing more numerouos an
! larger which means that our farms ar
p being washed away. Under Mr.. Book
q mans plan the open ditch gradual
. fills up, grass grows over it and tn
: wash is stopped. Is addition to this til
e natural wash from the hills on eac
n side. comes down the road and lodge
: at the foot raising the level of the roa
e very considerably instead Of going 0
: down stream. The expense Of the tiIin
n is not so very great either. as many {
e these township bridges cost from $1t
e to $3.50 and must must be repaired cor
: stantly and renewed within fe
s years.
"a Any man once visiting Mr. BooEnan
I farm and seeing what has been az
e complished there by the tile drainin
,el will have great respect for Mr.. Bool
'elmaq's ideas on draining. He says thi