The Oskaloosa herald., 1903-02-26
PLEA FOR GOOD ROADS
Professor curtiss Offers Some Elk.
cellent Ideas.

Prof. Curtiss Of the Iowa State Col
lege Of Ames gives his views on the
good roads question. We give below
a part Of a paper recently read by him
at the Brick and Tile Association
meeting held at Ames, Iowa, recently:
1--WE have been too much in the habit
Of magnifying state and national taxes
while ignoring the fact that our local
taxes are four or five times as large
and far less judiciously expended. Be-
sides the absolute waste of money,
bad roads in themselves impose an
other heavy tax. Carefully collected
statistics obtained direct from the
farmers themselves, and farmers have
the reputation of being conservative,
indicate that the average cost of 0
ing a ton Of farm products n mile is
25 cents and that the average haul is
twelve miles. The estimate of the dis
lance seems too high but the rate per
ton probably is not. The total tom
mage of agricultural products market
ed annually is about $50, 600 tons.
At 25 cents per mile for an average
distance of twelve miles the expense
of moving this produce amounts to
over 5000, 000, 900. 1t has also been
demonstrated that on good hard roads
agricultural products can be moved to
market at an average cost of not to
exceed s cents per mile for each ton.
This is less than one-third the cost
under actual existing conditions and
a corresponding reduction applied to
the entire tonnage would result in a
saving of $500, 900, 900 annually. Prob
ably some of the figures entering into
this estimate are ~eXtravagant but they
are statistics of the United States de-
partment of agriculture and based up
on careful estimates Of about 100000
practical, experienced men in various
parts of the country. Even if we scale
these figures as much as so per cent,
however, we still have a possible saw
ing of over $500, O00, 900 annually to be
accomplished by good roads, or, put
ting it another way, now lost by bad
roads.
A system of permanent good roads
cannot be obtained at nce They are
expensive but it is even more expen-
sive to permanently do without them.
Unfortunately, the best and richest
agricultural countries having the most
produce to market, have the least suit
able material from which to make per-
manent roads. The problem is to
make the most of what we have until
we can do better.
Let us sop to consider what it is
that makes roads bad as we find them
in this country. Nothing but water.
Remove the water and keep it away
and the whole problem is solved.
There are three systems of drainage
-underdrainage, surface drainage and
side bitches which are really a form CT
surface drainage. The undertakings
is of chief Importance. A water
soaked subsoil always precludes the
possibility of a good road. Under
drainage should be provided by a well
constructed tile drain under wide open
cutters at each side. These cutters
should be so formed with reference to
the crown of the road as to catch all
of the surface drainage. The tile
should be laid at least three feet be-
low the bottom of the cutters If posi-
BILE to get an outlet at that depth.
Even a single drain will be quite effec-
tive and is sometimes regarded as Ouf-
fcient, but thorough drainage is OF
such vital Importance as to fully war
rant a liberal outlay for this part of
the work. If a single line of tile is
used it should always be placed under
the gutter at one side of the road and
never under the center of the grade
as that part of the road is generally
impervious Of water. Next in import
ance to good construction is proper
maintenance. No system of roads
can do without repairs, and when re-
pairs and maintenance measures are
neglected, deterioration takes place
very rapidly. A little work done at
the right time is far more effective
than larger expenditures when de-
layed. For this eason the road work
of a township or district should be in
the hands of a competent man who
can devote all of his time to the work
for a period of at least eight or nine
months a year.
The road taxes should be paid in
cash and expended under the direc-
ton of a competent road builder, who
should be held to a rigid accountable
ity for his services the same as any
other public official.
The last general assembly of Iowa
enacted a very important law making
the township instead of the sub-dis-
trict the unit for road Work in Iowa
and providing for the payment of road
taxes in cash. The adoption of this