Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-10-29
A Pertinent Query
In the issue Of the Democrat of May
/, 1901, there appeared the following:

1, 1901, there appeared the following:
ABOUT COUNTY BRIDGES.
a Bremen township subscriber to the
Democrat asks, for information as to
the cost of building the Boulting bridge
built across Bear Creek about two years
ago.
The Democrat is always glad to have
Its readers apply to it for information
on matters Of public interest. In this
case we are sorry to say that we cannot
give satisfactory answer to the in
quiry.
elale of Iowa, Section 442, sub
division 81 red Heses the Board of Super
visors to keep:
"a book to be known as the "bridge
book" where record of bridges shall
be kept In numerical order in each con-
gressiOnal township, commencing in
section one, and Numbering each bridge;
give location in fractional parts OF
sections; name the kind of material
used for substructure and superstruc-
ture; give length and cost of bridge,
and, when repaired to keep record of
repairs and charge it to the bridge; and
warrants drawn in payment for erection
or repairs of bridges shall indicate the
number of the bridge for which it is
used In payment
Had this book been kept, we could
have readily, by referring to it, have
obtained the information asked for.
In 1887 Auditor Stetson procured a
blank book in compliance with the
statute above quoted, but it has never
been used not q single entry has been
made In it, and the auditor informs us
that he is not able to give us the cost of
said bridge, there being R0sFeccrd i1r his
office which shoNs-its cost. x 4
Why aboard of Supervisors do not
comply with the law in having the
bridge book kept we do not know. That
tits not kept is through no fault Of
Auditor Stetson. He cannot make
entries therein except upon information
from the board, or its members acting
as committee on bridges, and no such
information has been furnished him.
We understand that the board has
divided the county into three districts
for road and bridge purposes, and q
member Of the board is assigned to one
of these districts to supervise and at
tend to the erection and repair of
bridges, etc.
Supervisor Lindsay has, we believe,
the supervision of the district in which
the Boulting bridge is located, and pos
sibly he may be able to furnish "Sub-
scriber" the information asked for.
1t is now in order for the board to
explain why the "bridge book" is not
kept The columns Of the Democrat
are at its service for such explanation.
If, as the board elaine, the cost of
building the bridges under consider
alton are less under the present system
than under the lowest bidder system,
the records in the Auditors office
should contain the data to show it, and
If the claim made is true, it seems
strange that the board does not have
the cost of each bridge built, and re-
pairs made thereon, entered in the
bridge book as required by law.
The publication of the foregoing has
had no effect upon the board for they
have not as yet made, or caused to be
made single entry in the bridge book.
1t is as free from entries of any kind as
it was the day it left the bindery where
it was bound.
We admit that we cannot understand
what the board mean by their neglect
to perform their plain duty in regard to
keeping the bridge book. They in effect
say, that is none of the public's business,
and this too in the face of Section 421
of the Code which provides that:
If any supervisor shall neglect or re-.
fuse to perform any of the duties which
are or shall be required Of him by law
as member of the board Of super
visors, without just cause therefor he
; shall for each offense, forfeit one hun
dred dollars.
It is no pleasure for us to again cal
attentionto this matter. Personally we
feel kindly to every member of the
board. But the Democrat deems it a