Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-19
State Association of County Su'
pervisors Discuss Good Roads
Question at Dubuque
WATER ENEMIES OF HIGHWAYS
P. kupke of Fonda Reads Interesting
Paper In Which He Points Out De,
fects In Present System of Road
Work-Would Court Public Sentf.
ment-Other Iowa News.
Special to Times-Republ,can.

| Dubuque, Aug. 1e-The annual meet
ing Of the State Association of County
Supervisors was brought to a close
yesterday with a few heated discus
stons on the important questions per-
tanning to county work.
The good roads agitation was doub-
led by the reading of Il paper on the
question by p. kupka, of Fonda Mr..
kupka is an ardent admirer of good
reads and one Of the prime movers in
the matter. After he had gone over the
preliminary part OF his paper he settled
down to facts. He said in part that the
end to be aimed at in all good road
work Is permanency. The criticism of
the plans of the good roads movement
is the TACT that the work will Rave
To he done over every season. 1t IS n
we'll known fact that the enemy to good
roads Is water. Heavy rains loosen
the dirt and the grade is lost in the
overflow. In order to do away with the
water there must be adequate drain
age. Dla.Eage Is the necessary coarse
for good reads. In his county the SUP
ervisors lave found it practical 70 use
the drainage system. In some places
tiles are laid along the roadside and the
water flows Off the road. In othe,
places bitches serve the same purpose
The work can be left to the several
road ds.;Iicts. According to Mr.. kap-
Ia the harmony of the state supacvi-
sors in this action will prove of ines
Unable value. Let the money be ex-
pended In some one much needed i'm
proyement instead of placing 1t IN sew
ersl temporary pieces of work"
Mr. Eupka closed his side of the SIS
QUESTION by stating that the persons who
faver god roads can accomplish much
by creating a pubic sentiment in rheir
favor.
The county schools" was brought
UP. The discussion on the subject was
exciting. Mr. ". O. Holcombe, of Boone.
took a stand with the opposition and
declared himself opposed to the CEN
tralization of the schools. Before going
into the bed OF his contention the
speaker admitted that inevitably the
system Of county schools centraliza-
ton will be introduced. He said that
as soon as 1t would be introduced the
property in the vicinity of the school
house will increase while in other parts
1t will decrease. This is bound to cause
trouble. according to his statements,
and there win be- continuous warfare.
Again the school boy and girl are
brought into. the matter. Holcombe
said that with the schools centralized
the boys and girls will have to drive for
miles to get an education. Hours will
be spent in travel. and then there are
few hours left to study. The time
spent on going is time lost and the AM
erican boy needs all the time he can
the present system because it Is best
suited to the farm children.
Supervisor Cooney. of Dubuque. ar
gued before the meeting on the advis-
ability of publishing the proceedings
OF the county board in all papers in or
der to give all the tax payers an OPP
portunity to see what occurs Rates
could be fixed and the amount per line
decided upon by the contracting par
ties. "The present method" he said,
does not reach into all the homes of
the tax payers
The county auditors meeting was
devoted more to the consideration of
technical questions than those Of pub
lie interest. The most important work
done yesterday was the report Of the
committee recommending that the road
taxes be spread as consolidated and
collected with other taxes. Because
the coming election will affect fifty
it was decided to hold the next
meeting at Marshalltown, Iowa, in Feb
ruary, 1906. This viii give all an op-
portunity to discuss matters that they
are not familiar with. After all other
business had been concluded the fol-
lowing officers were elected: President,
E. Berger, Scott county; vice president.
w L. McLeland, Marshalltown; sec
rotary. ]. S. Newcomer. Hardin coun-
ty; treasurer. j. II. Weimer. Dubuque.
Member of executive board: j. w.
DAILY, Cherokee.
The treasurers had more of a social
gathering than a business meeting. The
following officers were elected: Presi-
dent, w. H. Cahail; vice president. j.
w. Scherer: treasurer. ]. w. Vest; sec
rotary, G.. S. Robinson.