The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1901-07-26
IOWA FARMERS IDEA.
More Just Method of Tnxntion Would
Aid Road Improvement More
Than Anything Else.

How shall we improve highways
Not by running in debt. and issuina
bonds which will remain mortgage
ON our farms until paid by increased
taxation. Such measures would drive
more people 10 the towns. and make
our boys And girls less willing 10 re-
main ON the farms and follow the oc-
cupation of tillers OF the soil. Yet we
want and must have better roads The
demand for rural free mail delivery is
Urgent, and pressing the general gov
ernment from every quarter. This de-
mand cannot be met without roads
suitable for light vehicles al all sea-
sons Of the year, under all conditions
Of the weather. How shall we make
the roads better? We must make
them for the most part. of the soil
/ ON and near by where the road is To-
/ Gated The alluvial soil Of the great
er portion of Iowa. Illinois and con-
siderable portion Of other adjoining
states is rich in humus and all the
constituents that are needed 10 en-
able II 20 produce bountiful crops.
But these materials are not the best
for making a solid roadbed impervious
10 water and free from mud and wa
ter In rainy weather. But roads of
this material may be made possible
even in wet weather, II properly
drained and the grade maintained in
an oval form so that the water which
falls thereon shall find its way quick
ly to the bitches beside the road and
on to the sea. A very large number
OF good and sufficient grades have been
built by the townships and counties Of
Iowa and other states, which for want
OF proper care are quagmires and al
most If not altogether. impossible in
rainy season, or in the annual break
up of the spring time To put these
in order and keep them so we must
have some man OF men who can do il
when the ground is In condition for such
work, and the farmers are busy IN
their fields planting and sowing. The
road supervisor must not be a farmer,
and here In Iowa he should work I'M
der the direction of the township
trustees. We have machines In almost
every township for grading and ditch
ing. which, II properly handled, will
take the earth from the edges Of the
road and draw II into the center, and
place the roadbed in the proper form
for conveying the water 10 the bitches
and building a solid foundation FOR the
wheels. This work cannot be well done
when the ground is wet or very hard
and dry. Hence the necessity OF hav-
ing a man for his work who makes ~
his business. and will give IL timely at
tention. All taxes for the highways
must be paid in money. We have law
in Iowa that permits the placing OF
township I'm a supervisor district, and.
If the trustees so elect. Of making all
the taxes payable in money. Town
ship trustees have In some instances
made the township o single district |
under one supervisor, hut have rarely, |
if ever. required the entire road tax 10 /
be paid I'm money. II might be better
20 give the care and the expenditure |
OF the highway funds 70 the county /
board of supervisors, permitting them /
10 eXpend in the several townships all /
the taxes raised in the township by |
contract for new grades, and the main
tanning in good order all grades al /
ready made, contracting for graveling /
the grades wherever that IS available.
Old methods of making and caring /
for the roads have followed MS from
promitive times in the older eastern
states. and must be relegated 10 the
dead past before we can hope for
very much better highways. A more
just method Of taxation whereby the
property of all the people. bondhold-
ers and raiAoads. telegraph, tele-
phone. and all other public utilities,
are made TO pay their just proportion
of the taxes by an assessment OF their
properties according 20 their cash
or selling value, the same as farm
or the merchants stock Of goods. or
the capital of bank. will aid mate
rally in equalizing the burdens Of
making and maintaining better roads.
II. II. Fitch, in Prairie Farmer.