The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-02-05
VALUABLE SUGGESTION
Hon. Chris Mathes Discusses New
Road Law at County Super
visors' Convention.

of the county supervisors OF Iowa, at
Davenport, Hon. Chris. Mathes, of
Burlington, read valuable paper on
the subject of "Good Roads, Their
Maintenance and Best Method for
Operating the One Township Road
Plan" Mr.. Mathes said:
Having prepared and read before our
district and state convention four diff
ferent papers at various times in regard
to working and improving country
roads with the limited means at the
disposal of the county and township
road districts, shall not take up this
subject again at this time, but con6ne
my remarks to the provisions of the
new township law, as passed by the
Twenty-ninth general assembly.
While the new road law probably does
not satisf; the majority of the board
OF supervisors and trustees, it is with
out question great Improvement over
the old law. We gained the one point,
for which our conventions have worked
and striven in all their annual meetings
since the year 1897: The payment If
this district road tax in cash. In the
original draft of the bill, the committee
provided for mandatory clause, that
each township road district shall levy
four (4)mill road tax; as passed
and adopted by the legislature it leaves
it at the option of the trustees levy not
less than one and not more than four az
mill tax. This, in my opinion, is the
weak point of the law. If passed as
originally planned providing for four
(4) mill compulsory road tax, good
deal of permanent road work could be
done, which will not depend entirely on
the action of the trustees, and while the
board of township trustees in general
are composed of some of the best citi-
zens, and who may be progressive
enough to make use of the benefit OF this
law to the limit, good many other
boards am afraid, will adhere to the
old time ways and usages, to levy as
little time road tax as possible, no mat
ter what the conditions of the roads
may be. of course We will have to adopt
our views and work according to the
provisions of the law as passed.
Section 1882 A. Orders that the
township trustees in their April session
of this year shall consolidate all road
i,fr rioto i,,tn hi rin
Section l54O A. Provides that the
trustees shalt levy the taxes, lay out
the road work to be done during the
season, determine, whether they want
to let the work by contract or appoint a
road superintendent.
If l consider my twelve years. ex-
perience on the board, coming more or
less in contact With many road super.
visors in the county l would most
emphatically recommend the appoint.
ment of road uperintendent, pro.
vided the trustees can secure a proper
man for the position. He should be d
man with some experiercein in road work
of good common business qualifications
and able to manage and handle his
workmen satisfactorily to both parties.
If they cannot succeed in securing an
efficient man as uperintendent, then
, the trustees shall supervise the work
themselves rather than letting out by
contract. should think, the trustees
by paying the limit of compensation to
\ the road uperintendent( $500 per day
actually engaged in the work., should
nave no trouble to secure a proper man.
1.-the superintendent does not give
satisfaction, the trustees reserve the
right to discharge him at their pleasure.
seFtion 1864. Provides that the town.
ship Noad superintendent shall in April
and Nvember of each year make full
reportNo the township clerk, about the
condition of the roads, the work done
during he season, money collected,
road tax delinquent, names of persons
who paid heir taxes and the names OF
those agaist whom he had to bring
action for rfusal to work out poll tax.
This report (which has to be sworn to by
the TOWNSHIP road superintendent
should be sui tmitted without fail, and
the trustees slould see to it, that it is
done.
Section 1864. Makes it the duty of
the trustees ofNeach township to file
with the board # supervisors on or be.
+
fore the first Mnday in January of
each year full I'd itemized account of
all their expendi ipres and receipt OF all
moneys, which rsoit shall be published
with the proceedings Of the January
session Of the boaA Of supervisors
Section 1562-l56sA. Referring to the
destroying of the 'panada thistle, Rus.
sian thistle and cuang of the weeds on
the highways shold be strictly en-,
forced by the townhip road superin-
tendent or trustees.
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