Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-04-25


few in population and poor in finances
These conditions have wholly changed
The population and wealth has been
doubled over and over again, and
while we have progressed by leaps and
bounds in all other matters, we are to-
day just where our forefathers left us
in the matter of road making. We are
using the same method they were
obliged to use, employing the same
means and bringing about the same re-
suits.
"The distressing part Of this Is found
In the fact that Iowa is annually ex-
pending more than $3,OOO,0OO on com
mon roads, without leaving behind
this enormous expenditure any sub
stantial or permanent Improvement.
The county of Wapeuo probably con-
tributes annually to this enormous
sum 100000, and yet apprehend that
it would be difficult for road expert
to find much real permanent work
The ten years of use of this tax means
to this county the expenditure Of
100000, out of which should be
wrought many miles of permanent
road, none of which are likely to be
found today.
inefficient Road Laws.
1.-THE failure of this money to leave
in It's trail permanent results is not
due to the dereliction of any officer or
set of officers, but is wholly due to our
inefficient road laws.
"The trouble is that we have treated
this great proposition as common
place one. We have divided up our
roads into so many. small sections and
divisions that the demonstration of
road building rests with the path mas
ter. In this way we are annually
grinding out vast army of would-be
road makers whose work seems to con-
sist principally of destroying the work
of the officials who went before them.
We are raking and scraping out roads
each year to fill the depressions and
ruts that the frosts of the preceding
winter have occasioned In this way
our road money is dissipated without
leaving any permanent results The
defect here which must be clear to all
thinking minds, may be removed by
charging the limits Of the road dis
tricts. These in my judgment should
not be less than the county. If the
county was single road district man
with brains, a skillful civil engineer,
could be employed, paid an adequate
salary and give to the care, construc-
ton and maintenance of the roads in
his district, that which will be found
to be absolutely essential If our roads
are ever improved, namely, brains and
experimental knowledge.
Better Results for Money.
"He will be able to take the road
fund and expend 1t upon those roads
where needed. He will be able to set
apart from the fund each year a GER
tain portion for the construction of
new permanent road. We will then be
securing permanent vesults without
increasing in the slightest degree our
road tax. AS rule we have too much
Legislation, but We need legislation on
this subject.
Rests With Farmers. ).
1.-THE construction and cost Of main.
taing country roads rests today upon
the farmers. feel free in stating that
as long as it rests there we will con-
tinue to squander our time and money
while wallowing in the mud with our
teams in the transmission of com.
merce.
There was time in the history of
our Iowa farmers when they held the
balance of power in the matter of
wealth and when it was possibly right
that this burden should rest upon
them. This condition has changed.
Our cities and towns now contain the
bulk of the population and wealth and
all of this, or nearly all, escapes any
burden of the cost of construction or
maintenance of these roads.
Should Change Condition.
"This condition should be changed
, Every dollor of property in the state
should be made to bear it's just proper
ton of this tax. A merchant puts II
a stock of goods which he hopes ant
expects the farmers to buy. Yet he
| does not contribute penny in order tx
make the roads over which his pros
pective customers must come to reach
his place of business. 1t would be
| just as fair If the road law instead Of
laying the burden on the farmers
should lay it on the merchants ant
other business men, railroads anc
other corporations.
"The means for building these roads
should come not only from the indi
viduals Immediately benefited but
from the county, state and nation, an6
each of these departments should
have it's proportion of the cost to bear
A road is in no sense a local institu
ton. Everyone is entitled to use il
and whoever uses it should contribute
to the cost Of making and maintaining
it.
The Mud Tax.
"'The greatest tax that we as PEG
pie pay today is what we might cal
| the mud tax If every dollar Of this