Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-06-03
FIRST ROAD SCHOOL
INSTRUCTION IN ROAD BUILDING
UNDER DIRECTION IOWA HIGH.
WAY COMMISSIONER.
Will Be Conducted At Ames June H.
\ II - School for Township Trustees,
Road Superintendent, County Sup
ervisors and Others.

hoao S0PeTlHtenQentS, SouHly ouP-
ervisors and Others.
The first road school under the d.
rection Of the Iowa Highway commits
sion, for the instruction of township
trustees, road superintendent, county
supervisors and others responsible for
the public roads. in road building and
road maintenance, will be conducted
at Ames commencing Monday morning,
June IL and lasting until Saturday,
Juno II. The Iowa Highway commits.
sion was appointed by the last general
assembly of Iowa and consists Of A.
Marston, dean of engineering, G. F.
Curtis, dean of agricultural division,
and Thomas H. Macdonald, assistant
in charge of good roads investigation,
of Iowa State college at Ames.
All the meeting will be held at the
college buildings. A round trip rate of
one and one-third fare on the certificate
plan has been made by the railroads
and a large attendance is expected.
The Field.
| The announcement sent out by the
commission regarding the first road
school is in part as follows:
When the road taxes were put upon
a tax basis, and the township road
district plan adopted, the old condi-
lions were no longer applicable to the
new. Under the labor system and the
small road district, men could be found
who were able to warn out their neigh
= IN m ho nd 10 nj
in measure the work of the men and
] teams which assembled at his sum-
mons.
| When the new law with the larger
district and ready money available for
road purposes was adopted, Iowa sud-
denly found herself looking for three
trustees in each township who could
tntelligently and economically spend
these road funds; who could adopt some
plan of road Improvement which would
give to their township a system of re-
liable roads and who could select a
man for road superintendent who was
qualified for the position.
| The number of men who are by their
duties required to understand the prin-
ciples of road building and mainten-
ance in nfnety-nine counties, averag-
Ing, say sixteen townships, is about
4,700 trustees, 600 road superintend-
ents, and about 800 county supervisors,
making total of over $500. These
are the men in particular for whom
/ the school was established and it will
be conducted entirely with regard to
the local conditions found in Iowa.
Organization.
| For all Of the work given in the
school, the students will be divided
into sections and if necessary, the sec.
tons into classes. For the field work
In surveying and drafting room work
the students will be divided into small
groups, each in charge of an instruc.
tor.
The evening lectures will be given
to the entire number of students.
Scope of Work.
The instruction which will be given
naturally divides itself into four dis
tinct subjects, as follows:
4 l. Class room work.-A series OF
lectures on different phases of the
road question.
2. Field work,-Practical work In
the use of road surveying instruments
the preparation Of road maps and pro
files and plans for highway improve.
ment.
8. Modern road machinery.-There
will be an extensive exhibit of the diff
ferent kinds of modern road machin
cry. Also g series of lectures and
demonstrations in it's care and its use
/ a. Cement in highway improvement
designs for concrete culverts and
bridges will be supplied to the students
by the commission and number OF
models will be built to illustrate the
use of these designs. This subject
will lalso receive considerable atten
ton in the class room.
II will be the aim to give all the
work in as simple and detailed man
ner as possible.
Plans are being made to build model
sections of earth, gravel and macadan
roads. Several sections of concrete
:, culverts have already been constructed
on the grounds and others will be built
during the school.
instructors.
Practical men from all over the state
are being engaged as instructors fo,
this school. D. Ward King, whom the
Northwestern recently sent out in 6
special car to explain his simple meth
DDS of maintaining earth roads, will be
here. Henry Haag, chairman boart
of supervisors of Greene county, G. d
Corbin, Coon Rapids who is an ex
J pert with road machinery, and mum
Der Of such representatives and prac
tical men will give talks before the
students on different subjects pertain
ing to road Improvement