Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-13
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PEOPLES PULPIT.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Good Roads Advocated.

Editor of the Courier: In your is
sue of Jan, 6, read letter
from the Hon. G. w. Dickens of Com
petine township pertaining to the bet
terment of the roads of tse county
am very glad to read this letter
and to know that there is some action
being taken in this direction and be-
ing agitated through your press to
stimulate the trustees of the different
townships and the citizens generally
in taking up the matter of improving
the condition of our public highways.
Time and money cannot be better eX-
pended than in this direction, and as
it is matter of great Importance to
the public generally to have good roads
and think it is high time that the
citizens be generally interested in this
work and that there should be meet
ing called which would be termed a
road convention, at our court house for
the purpose of taking up the matter
and discussing the ways and means
whereby a better condition of the roads
may be brought about.
Some years ago when | was travel
ing in this country over the different
roads engaged in the live stock bust
ness. my attention was particularly
called to the. different ideas of the diff
ferent road supervisors and it seemed
to me that there was no uniformity
in lettering the conditions of the
roads. The road supervisors were
elected each year. and quite often diff
ferent persons who were not really
experienced in managing the workings
of the roads for the betterment of thier
condition; hence,I can well see the me-
cessity of more definite plan that
would be carried out generally through
out the county in the different town
ships. Also, the writer had some ex-
perlence while member of the county
board of supervisors regarding the
bridges of our county, and the condi-
ton of them, and it was my experience
that 1t was a very difficult matter to
get the road supervisors to look after
the matter of keeping the bridges clear
of the accumulation of mud, and I
have often seen the floors of bridges
covered from two to six inches deep
with mud, carried on by reason Of the
travel over them, causing the bridge
to carry an unnecessary accumulation
of weight and lessening the durability
of them.
think this should be looked after.in
connection with the duties of the diff.
ferent townships or persons who may
have charge of working the roads, as
it is a difficult matter for the county
supervisors to be familiar with the
condition of the unnecessary weight of
the bridges from time to time.
beg leave to state that during the
month of November, made a trip to
Ohio and had occasion to make drive
in the country and my attention was
particularly attracted to the condition
of the roads in that country. The low
places were filed up and the high
places cut down and the road macad-
amized, making it very convenient for
the public, as there could be much
larger loads hauled over the roads and
one could make much better time.
In fact, it improves the looks of any
country to have good roads
Our land now, is as valuable al
land in Ohio,and cannot see any reas-
on why We should not be enabled and
| take the same interest in the improve
ment of our roads as they do in the
eastern states.
| Referring to the new road law which,
was enacted in the last session of the
state legislature which aims at the
improvement OF the country roads, 1
was very much pleased to read it, and
believe it to be the proper step in the
right direction.
Yours respectfully,
]. B. Mowrey.