Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-02-17
Is the Present Road Law Likely to Be
come a Success.
By THos. Wilson.

1t seems to me, that would largely
depend on how the present road law
is carried out. Success or failure of
any law or plan or movement de-
pends altogether, how, and by whom
the work is done. The law as we
have it today has not been carried
out to the letter nor nearly so. So,
that there is any dissatisfaction
with the present road law it ought
not to be attributed to the law itself,
but rather to the looseness wi;.l,
cb IL; ;ha.s 'peen ca11Ieu out, and
also to the lack Of funds to properly
conform to the spirit of the law.
Whether the present law is likely to
become success CT not can hardly
be determined from last seasons
work. Last years failures ought
only to make this years success
more sure, and the different town
ship boards ought now be able to
Judge, more of the needs of their
respective districts, and as to adopt
ing a system suited to their terri
tory. They ought now to be able
to Judge more of the needs Of their
respective districts, and as to adopt
ing system suited to their territory.
They ought now be able to decide
how much they ought to expend on
permanent and how much on patch
work.
l think it would be a wise plan
for the different township boards to
get together and formulate plans for
the coming seasons work. They
will now know how much money
they will have to expend, and can
therefor more intelligently map out
their coming years work and a
large percentage Of the work should
be permanent.
Do as good work as possible, and
in season. If your superintendents
gave good and satisfactory service
last season, get them again if pos
sible, for they will give better SER
vice this year than last, because Of
knowing the conditions among
which their work lies.
Township boards now ought also
to be able to determine which of the
plans gave the best satisfaction; the
hiring Of one or two or three super
intendents or the overseeing Of the
work themselves. Some may pos
sibly have let all or part Of the work
by contract, they will now be able
to determine Of the advisability Of
this course.
i 1 think a great many things en-
countered in last seasons work will
have smoothed the way toward bet
ter and more systemized work this
year, and therefor ought to make the
carrying out Of the law more sue
cessful and satisfactory.
], To the end that the present law
be more thought Of in the coming
years, it behooves us as voters anc
taxpayers to see to it that our town
ship boards are composed Of. mer
eminently fitted for the office, homes
!, energetic business men. Men Wit
will see to the interests of the town.
!, ships and that fair days wage re
: ceive as its equivalent, a fair day
work, men Of good common sens
. and executive ability, and withal
: good knowledge Of the laws relating
9 to, and governing road work ant
road building. He may possess al
t the other qualifications but if h
n lacks good natural ability in the di
Q rection Of road making he will no
|. be much Of success.
n 1t seems to me that this one thin,
t the material Of which your differen
a township boards is composed, vii
n go great way towards solving tn
Q question before us. One thing
n want to impress on your minds il
i conclusion, it don't always follow
s that because man has no othe
) fixed business, he is a born roa
# maker. A thorough understandin
Il of business is necessary to th
n lsuccess Of that business.