Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-28
Explains Buckeye States Method
of Taxing.
SAYS ALL SHOULD BE INTERESTED
General Activity of the Nation De-
ponds Largely on Conditions of
Country Roads and the farmers
Ability to Bring Produce to Market.

]. B. Mowery, who was one of the
representatives from Wapello county
at the Iowa Good Roads convention
leld in Des Moines recently and who
has been appointed delegate to repre-
sent the sixth congressional district
at the national convention next week
in st. Louis, has given the topic of
good roads much serious consideration
and has written communication to
the Courier regarding his views upon
the subject and imparting some infor-
nation he has secured regarding good
roads improvements made in Ohio. His
letter, which will be read with interest
by all who favor the good roads idea,
and that includes almost everyone,
Is as follows:
Editor Courier:-
Permit me to make mention of some
items regarding the movement which
has lately sprung up regarding the i'm
provement of the public roads.
would state first that the writer
attended the Iowa good roads state
convention last week, which was held
at Des Moines, and which was very
interesting, indeed, and found that
therewas a great interest taken in. this
movement. The convention was called
BY Governor A. B. Cnmmins, who was
present at the convention and gave
very nice talk on this line and well
5 romed the delegates to the convention.
The welcome address on behalf of the
city of Des Moines was delivered by
Mayor James NJ Brenton, which was
responded to by Hon, T. G. Harper of
Burlington.
The eleven congressional districts
were all well represented and, in fact,
there was a good attendance by the
delegates and visitors as well. There
were a number of good addresses
made, especially that of w. H. Moore,
president of the National Good Roads
Association, and also the National
Aid to Road Improvement" by Col J.
B. Killebrew of Nashville, Tennessee.
There was a general discussion parti-
cipated in by the visitors and dele
gates, which was very interesting
also.
This is a movement that is started
in the right direction, for there is no
subject before US today in which we
all have deeper interest than that
Of the improvement of roads. 1t was
generally conceded by those who at
tended the convention that the new
law was a good step in the right direc-
ton, but it required some modifica-
lions, as it is not sufficiently formu-
lated to cover all the ground in this
direction, and it was the feeling of
those that were at the convention that
the new law will probably be revised
and so formulated to meet the require
ments.
q
was very much impressed by the
address of w. HI. Moore, president OF
the National Good Roads association,
for the reason that he brought out the
interest that the government was TAX.
Ing in regard to the improvement of
roads and stated that the government
was willing to appropriate something
In this direction when they were given
evidence that the funds would be
properly used and that the public was
taking an interest in this direction and
meant to do something for the i'm,
provement of the roads, but if there was
no action taken and no organized eff
fort made to carry out some definite
plan that might be adopted for the i'm
provement of the roads, the govern
ment would not feel like giving state
or county aid, and that he was there
to work up an interest in the matter
of organizing in the state, county, and
If need be, in the township organiza
lions; so we find that the government
Is willing to do something in this di
rection for many reasons. He made
mention particularly in regard to the
rural delivery, stating that the rura
free delivery is increasing in popular
yty and the people it serves would fee
lost without it, and to retain it they
must keep up the highways in goot
condition or in certain sections il
would be difficult task. learned alsc
that other states were organizing ant
Col. j. B. Killibrew Of Nashville, tenn.
stated that they had very good or