Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-11
GOOD ROADS AND THE DRAINAGE Law

ln:.1,f ;;iic IcstoHcc Mt Marshalltowr
1 ltwa. assCccnd-ciaSs mai. matter.
GOOD ROADS AND THE DRAINAGE Law
A number of farmers and business
men of Carroll county. recently met al
/ Glit;den for discussion of the good
roads problem The resolutions passed
| by the assembly contain the essence
of road sentiment in Iowa. First
the farmers expressed by vote theii
sentiment in favor of good roads. An
other motion carried recommending
a state law authorizing condemnation
of gravel beds for road use. Then
they called for drainage law to EN-
power road officials to drain across
adjacent land. assessing fair propor-
ton of the cost to be determined by
the benefit derived to the land thus
drained. Last and not least in good
sense and judgment a motion against
the repeal of the present road law
was carried.
The report of the assembly as given
by the local paper says. the strong
est factor in drawing such large au-
dience as was present was the wide
spread belief that new law is contem-
plated by which state. county AMI
township bonds would be issued TO
construct expensive macadam roads
and declares that four out of every
five men present We're opposed TO any
ton.
The Glidden Graphic's report of the
Carroll county meeting is helpful real
ing for those assembly men who have
in charge prospective road legislation.
1t furnishes the kernel Of the road
making sentiment of the state. The
Carroll farmers realize the need of
better roads, are willing to concede a
larger and fairer trial to the new road
law, but it is noticeable that four on.
of five farmers were opposed tooth
and nail to macadam roads which in
volve large expenditures. Any bond
ing scheme will set the agricultural
districts buzzing like a bee hive. No
one realizes the convenience of stone
road more than the farmer himself.
He does not object to the macadam
road on the grounds that 1t is not
good road If macadam roads came
by favor every neighborhood would
have it's petition on file. The rural OBJ \
lection TO hard roads is that the rural
districts must pay its portion of their
cost. If the rural free delivery service
had carried the provision of even q
small direct local tax. instead of 1900
there would not be 200 routes in ope:.
alton in Iowa today.
The most important and satisfactory
suggestion made by the Carroll county
Is that relating to the drain
age laws. Adequate drainage is the'l
first step In Iowa road Improvement.
There can be neither dry dirt roads
nor permanent hard ones maintained
until amendment and change in Iowa's
drainage laws makes complete drain
lge possible.
The opposition to costly roads IS
most natural. Those sections OF low,
where macadam Is most needed are at
the least able to bear the bur-
ruined crops and made the farmers
poor as well as destroying dirt roa Is
which the excess OF rainfall made i'm
possible to mend. 1t is not to be Won
Tered at that these farmers oppose any
present Increase of their responsible
ties no matter how good such an In
,rease might prove as future invest
nent. The lowland farmer Is hard |
ip.' He has figured every available
iollar of the near future into the ex-
,ense of tile drainage of which thous-
inds Of miles were laid last season ana
irst thought is of farm Improvement.
rhe road must come later. but when
lie has finished thing the farm it will
,e found that he has gone far toward
he solution Of the road question also.
Leave the new road law as 1t is. pass
/ liberal drainage law and let the far
ner hvae hiss opportunity to work out
his own salvation from impossible
roads. When he has failed or refused
S time enough for stringent road legis-
alton.
WOOD ALCOHOL AND BLINDNESS.