Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1905-01-12
Good Reads Work at Iowa State
Cnileca

State Legislature the Iowa
State College at Ames was made
the State Highway Commission
of Iowa. Funds for carrying
the new law into effect became
available July LIST, 1904. The
work was assigned to Dean A.
Marston of the Division of En-
gineering and Dean C. f. Cur
tiss of the Division of Agricul-
ture and Mr.. I. II. Mcdonald
was engaged to take immediate
charge.
Since July list the Commission
has, by personal investigation,
studied the methods of good
roads construction in various
eastern states in which state
aid laws are in force. Further,
a general study has been made
of the road question in this
state and a considerable amount
of data collected which will
soon be published in bulletin
form. Construction has been
begun of road maps of each
county, classifying the roads
as regards travel, and indicat-
ing the improved reads.
Also, personal investigations
are being made of road cordi-
lions in different counties, as
fast as possible, getting in close
touch with the road officers.
Good roads lectures are being
delivered on invitations of good
roads associations and farmers
institutes at various points in
the state.
Work has been begun on the
preparation of standard cross
sections of roads and standard
plans for the construction of
masonry culverts. To this Com
mission has been assigned the
tests of concrete-steel culvert
construction in cooperation
with the extensive series of
tests of concrete-steel which
are now being made in testing
laboratories of the country
under the auspices of the
American Society of Civil En-
gineers and other organizations.
An important feature Of the
work undertaken is the collec-
ton of detailed data in differ
ent parts of the state regard
ing the exact amount of travel
over the country roads ard the
cost of the same. Records are
also being kept of the prices of
farm produce in different parts
Of the state, together with re-
cords of the conditions Of the
roads. In the matter of col
lecting the data regarding the
amount and cost of travel, the
Commission has just succeeded
in having included in the ques-
tions to he answered in the
taking of the state census in
the spring Of 1905 the agricuI-
tural road schedules. When the
cards are returned by the cen
sus officers more complete in
formation will have been Sc
cured on the subject Of travel
over country roads of this state
than has ever been attempted
to be collected by any state or
government. The list of ques-
tions is as follows:
AGRICULTURAL ROAD SCHEDULE
County $50. town or town
ship. name. :. p. O. address
No. acres in farm. :. in
what section located. aver
age distance to market miles
No. bushels hauled to market
per year. corn, >. oats,
wheat, barley, .othe1
grains, grass and Other
seeds, potatoes and Other
vegetables, fruits of all
kinds. No. tons hay and other
forage. -, no. loads fuel te
market. ), no. lbs live stock
no. loads other produce. J, no
lbs milk or cream delivered te
creamery per day.. -. for.
days each year. Distance te
creamery miles. No. loads
fuel, building material, etc.
hauled from market per year.
average size Of full loads hauled
pounds. Average time re
quired for round trip, wher
hauling full loads. hrs. No
trips to market per week with.
out considerable load. Aver.
age distance Travelled per week
on highways other than tt
market. miles.
Deposits of road material or
farm:
Gravel yes limestone yes