River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-07-06
PROMOTING BETTER ROADS
State of Iowa Is Now Carrying On
Educational Campaign in Thor
oughfare Construction.

Iowa proposes to instruct and educate
her farmers in the technic Of good road
making. Recognizing the fact that if
an evil is to be remedied, it is good
logic to begin at the root Of the mat
ter, the Iowa good roads commission
has conceived the idea of holding
short course in road building in which
practical demonstrations will be made
and useful instructions given. The
Prairie Farmer believes that ultimately
valuable and far-reaching results are
destined to be realized in Iowa provid-
ing this work is properly supported and
Systematically carried forward.
Some good road promoters seem to be
of the impression that any progress
toward better country roads must be-
gin with the state legislature. On the
other hand it seems clearly evident that
effective results must first spring from
the demands of the farmer.
Convince the average farmer that the
sO-called good road is a good thing, and
public sentiment will demand all rea-
sonable improvement. In establishing
course of instruction on the advisable
ity, utility and proper construction Of
the rural highway Iowa seems to have
conceived the Importance of getting
down to the root of the matter. When
the farmers of that state have become
convinced that the good road is prac-
ticable as we'll as a useful utility, we
anticipate that there will be no diff
Guilty in securing the enactment of any
desirable legislation.
AS a class we do not believe that the
agriculturist is opposed to all advance
ment in the proper construction of high
ways, but it is evident that any legisla-
ton attempted by any general assem-
bly, in the middle west will have to en-
counter rough passage until the farm
er is thoroughly convinced that the good
road law is an actual advantage.
In many of the leading states of the
corn belt and adjacent sections, the ex-
pertinent station and agricultural col
leges have liberal appropriations made
annually. Ten years ago this was not
the case, but having demonstrated their
usefulness the farmer as class urges
liberal state assistance. In large
measure this evolution of senti-
ment must take place in reference to the
good road proposition. Iowa has set the
educational machinery in motion by an
nouncing its short course.
Perhaps the most commendable fac
tor in the Ames movement is that work
will be conducted along the line of de-
veloping the rural highways by utiliz-
ing home material There is no ques-
ton but what good roads can be made
out of soil and gravel if the earth is
properly handled The Iowa highway
commission proposes to make its be-
ginning along this line, and wisely
adopting this course, they will at once
secure the interest and cooperation of
many of the most progressive farmers Of
that state.
In her new work Iowa deserves to
succeed. Her commission has begun on
the plane where the farmer finds him
self at the present time. When it has
been demonstrated that the POSSIBLE
tiles of the earth road have been exhaust
ed, we anticipate that the farmer will
be ready to take the initiative in provid-
ing for better things. Then the much
desired improved rural highway will
approach the reality.