Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-04-22
AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THE
MATER OF GOOD ROADS.

The Iowa general assembly at its re-
cent session enacted very important
measure which may be classed as the
first step in securing good roads IN
/ the state. The necessity for such
measure was apparent to every cltl-
zen who has occasion to go into the
country districts and the editors OF
the state were industrious, persistent
and intelligent in urging good roads,
SO that the members of the legislature
have q constituency at their backs
who will strongly endorse what has
been done and in time will be ready
to urge still greater reforms in the
same direction.
Hon. A. w. Buchanan did not intro
duce the bill, as had been reported but
he was one of the most active mem
bers in securing it's passage. The Dill
as passed consists mainly of amend
ments and a number OF repeating sec
tons, but does not show clearly and
concisely what the law means as 1t
now stands. Mr.. Buchanan has kind
ly given to the Courier synopsis of
the measure and clear understands
ing of what it is in all its bearings.
The new law abolishes district road
Supervisors and instead of this system
the roads of township are under the
control of the township trustees, who
may,at their option, appoint township
Superintendent, whose duty it shall
be to construct roads under the direc-
ton of the trustees or they may order
the work done through contractors.
The residents of township are not
required to give personal service, but
all work is to be paid for in cash,
either to the contractors or to the per-
sons employed by the township super
intendent.
The new law does not indicate the
material to be used, nor the manner
of the Improvement; all this is left
to the discretion of the township
trustees who may construct roads OF
a permanent character or in any way
that will be to the best interest of the
township or the travelling public. 1t
4 is. however, the spirit of the law that
all work should as far as possible, be
of permanent character.
The new law does not go into effect
until April 1908, and at the regular
meeting in April the township trustees
shall consolidate the township into
one road district and all funds be-
longing to the road districts OF said
township shall at once become gen
eral fund, out of which all claims for
work or material furnished prior to
the charge, shall be paid.
In conjunction with the measure,
a separate law was enacted that will
materially aid the good purpose. This
law provides that the board of county
supervisors must levy a tax OF one
mill, which shall be used to make deep
cuts or excavations on the line of
public roads when such cuts are neces-
sary This will greatly aid the town
ship supervisors in their work and
reduce the expenses of Improvement.
This will in many cases enable
the township authorities to use such
material in road building as will be
permanent or lasting. In the debates
in the legislature it was suggested
that wherever gravel or stone were
not available, burned earth could be
used in making solid road bed.
This is very important legislation
for a practical purpose that will be
of untold benefit to the people OF
Iowa