Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-07-18
BOOST FOR BETTER ROADS.

If you are the owner of a horse or of
an automobile you will do well to give
ear to the good roads movement. Iowa
has a lot of good roads and she has
quite a few that are not good, and as
the greatest farming state in the I'M
ion and the envy OF all the other
states in this direction. she should look
to it that her highways are kept in the
best of condition. Farmers, Of course,
have the deepest interest in the main
tenance Of good roads between the VII
lagos and cities, as their use of these
paths is the most practical. With them
the road is an absolute necessity with
out which they could not carry on
their pursuits.
b But this does not excuse the man
who is merely the possessor OF pleas
ure vehicle for sitting back and leav-
ing everything to the farmers. So far
as direct interest is concerned they are
in the majority but every man who
wants to see the good Of his own prop
erty conserved should speak. act and
give to the impetus for a network OF
first class roads.
II he can not see any good Of 1t, let
him look at it in a selfish way. The
better the roads are the better condi-
ton will his horse or his automobile
keep In The smoother and firmer the
road the better state will the horses
feet keep In and the less often will he
need to be shod, and horse shoeing, be
it remembered, costs money. The finer
highways the auto enthusiast has on
which to operate his machine the less
power he will need to expend. the gas
oline bill keeping down In consequence.
The more even the road the less win
his machine be jolted and the longer
will it run smoothly and keep Its eff
ficiency.
Good roads lend to the lives OF
horses and buggies, carriages, wagons
and automobiles. The stock driven to
the railroad is in better condition for
having trod a good pike and is In con-
sequence likely to sell for a mite more
when placed on the market
Good roads cost patience, energy and
cash, but they are worth more than
they cost, for they give it back to the
makers, possibly without any con-
seriousness on the part of the people,
but it is given back just the same.
A point that will particularly I'M
press the farmer is that he must keep
his roads in repair to assure the de-
livery Of mail by the government; for
Uncle Sam does not agree to bring
around the letters unless he has de-
cent foundation to travel on. Every lit
tie while the postoffice department de-
cides that a rural route has too bad
roads for the carrier and serves notice
on the residents that it must be fixed,
unless thew wish to call for their mail
And it is fixed forthwith.
But the people should not wait for
this or any other kind of leverage
to be exerted to induce them to keep
their roads up. This season, 1t is true,
has been particularly trying one for
the country roads, as heavy rains have
been destructive Of good work accom-
plished by the people. But evaporation
need not take the place of good horse"
sense and as soon as the road IS
washed down 1t should be built up
again. Iowa owes it to her reputation
as a superior farm state to keep forged
in good order the links which connect
the acres of the various thrifty tillers
OF the soil.
The Iowa highway commission whll
meet in Waterloo, Aug. 10 and on the
next day the Iowa Good Roads con-
yention will commence in the same
city. There will be a school of instruc-
ton and many interesting offerings
| Of advice. It behooves everybody to
keep in touch with the proceedings on
these occasions.
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