Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-01-19

we may profit by their experience for
several years past. We do not insist
upon details at this time, though as
far ns Investigation has gone, the New
| York law seems to be about what we
neel in Iowa. This law provides that
| the state under proper restrictions and
/ regulations, shall pay one-haH of the
expenses of building road, the coun-
/ 'ty one-fourth. the township 10 per
cent and abutting property 10 per cent.
| The idea that the farmer should biuld
the country road has long been dis.
carded. The modern and correct view
Is that every citizen uses and Is bene-
| flied by our highways directly or in
directly, and therefore every citizen
should help pay for them.
Render Burden Easy.
ITO render the burden easy to
bear road certificates or bonds
are issued, running thirty to fif-
! ty years, SO that the next
generation who will reap as great hem
eft as this one, shall help to pay for
these roads. This law has proven ex-
ceedingly popular in New York after
a test of five years. 1t Is fair to as
sumo that it will be equally suitable
to Iowans. Our association also stands
for national aid. though it realizes that
1t may require several years before
| this is obtainable and that in the mean
time Iowa Is rich enough and progress
| sive enough to build her highways
| without waiting for national aid.
"All we need to accomplish this
| splendid achievement is cooperation,
| through perfect organization. When
| every county in Iowa sends up strong
appeal from large number of It's citi-
zens for the legislation we need, we
will get it. The honest legislator de-
slres only to know the will of his con-
stituency and takes pleasure In re-
spending to their wishes, The move
ment Is spreading with wonderful
force. From the exceeding interest
thus far shown in the many counties
already organized, 1t has become M
parent that Iowa will very soon join
those other states who have already
shown us that good roads can be llad5s
without an undue burden OF taxation.
Report Of Committees.
The report OF the committee on res.
olutions and nominations of officers
was as follows:
Report on nominations.
i Your committee on nominations and
i resolutions respectfully recommend
4 the following report:
Il For president--Geo. w Dickens.
II For first vice PRESIDENT. b. Now
cry.
il For secretary-Henry Merrick.
For treasurer T. p. Spilman.
For vice pre- dents of the townships
as follows:
Adams township-Jacob Arnold.
\ Agency township-Eli Johnson.
Cass township-D NJ Sackett.
4 Center township Geo. W. Hatch.
City--Jos. Dain.
Columbia township. A. Weber.
4 COMPETING township-Adam Decker.
Dahlonega township-A. r. Burns.
Greene township-W. p. Beamer.
Highland township Geo. D. Rob.
inson.
4 Keokuk township Thos. Teesdale.
Pleasant townslip-A. d. Warder.
4 Polk townshipG Geo. IT Chisman.
Richland township-A. j. Fairchild.
i Washington township. F. Newell.
J Report on Resolutions.
u Your committee also recommends
the adoption OF the following resolu.
tions:
Resolution No. 1.
q Whereas, AS an outgrowth Of the
State Good Roads convention called
: by Governor A. B. Cummins, April is,
1903, at Des Moines. Iowa, the Iowa
Good Roads association was organized
to cooperate with the National Good
Roads association, becoming an integ-
raj part thereof, and,
\ Whereas, The end sought by both
the National Good Roads association
and the Iowa Good Roads association
Is to create public sentiment that
!. will result in legislation favorable to
national, state, county and township
aid, in the permanent Improvement OF
our highways; now, therefore,
Be it resolved, That the Wapello
County Good Roads association does
hereby pledge itself to cooperate with
said Iowa Good Roads association and
to use any influence at its command
to aid in carrying forward the work
thus undertaken.
4 Resolution No. 2.
4 Whereas, The growing sentiment
among our people, clearly points to
the fact that at a not far distant day,
the counties of Iowa will be contribute
ing large sums of money toward the
permanent Improvement Of our public
roads, and therefore should now be ac-
tive in helping to bear the expenses
: of the necessary preliminary steps.
because IT. is. and must more and more
become a proper part Of their busi-
Iness, and
Whereas, The Iowa Good Roads as.
ISOLATION has requested from each
county in Iowa, the very modest and
paltry sum Of s25 to aid in carrying
forward the work Of the association, to
: which a few counties have responded,
Be it resolved. That 1t is the sense
of the convention that our board OF
supervisors shall promptly appropriate
said sum OF S25 and forward the
same to the treasurer OF said associar
ton, Homer A. Miller, at Des Moines.
A. ]. Reinier,
]. M McElroy,
w. ii. Fetzer,
Committee.