Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-08-05
Better For Raising General
Average Of Roads, Than
Are State Highways
SAUNDERS FOR WIDE TIRE LAW
Believes, With Colonel w. F. Baker,
Author of Bill, That Use of Wide
Tires Must BE Required, to Bring
Iowa Roads to High State of Excel
Ience.
Special to Tames-Republican.

Speciai TO 1lfnes-tepuDNCan.
| Council Bluffs, Aug. 5.-Senator c.
6. Saunders, who previously Endorsed
| the wide tire bin prepared by Col. w.
F Baker, Of this city, the text of
which was published in the columns
Of the Times-laepublican, says in an
interview upor, the subject of good
roads for lowe:
| Zone thing is certain, and that is
| before Iowa will be able to improve
and maintain her roads as they should
be maintained, "a wide tire law will
have to be passed and enforced. In
France. where the roads are among
the finest in the world, not only are
wide tires required. but they will not
permit tires to track with each other
on heavily loaded wagons. The use
Of wide tires must be required in Iowa
roads are to be brought to high
stage of excellence"
The foregoing expression was
brought out by the appointment of a
committee from the Council Bluffs
Commercial club with other business
men, to confer with Senator Saunders
regarding state aid for road construc-
ton. which conference has not yet
been held. s4sa
State Aid Needed.
& Congressman Walter l. Smith ex-
pressed the opinion that state aid for
road construction, rather than the
construction of state roads, should be
encouraged. He said also: There
was a time when state roads running
thru the state would have been a ma
|sterial aid to state and interstate COM
nlerce, but that time has passed. State
roads, such as now being urged, would
benefit the lano bordering on them, but
would be of little benefit to people
living few miles away.
IF, however, provision could be
made, whereby the state would con-
tribute, say, one third of the cost OF
permanent road improvement it would
lead to the establishment of a stand
ard Of road construction that does
not-now exist, and would assist in Sc
curing more thorough supervision of
road making"
Movement for Two Roads.
Announcement for two state roads ex-
tending from east to west, one passing
thru Des Moilles with its western
terminus at Council Bluffs, and one
with its western terminus at Sioux
City, was started by the Council Bluffs
Commercial club, which is giving much
of it's time and attention to the good
roads movement.
Si Anent the question of good roads on
rural free delivery routes
which, owing to the rcent
order from the postal depart
lnent ordering !, discontinuance of mail
delivery on routes where the roads are
not kept in a passable condition. has
given postmasrers and carriers much
concern. Col. w. r. Baker, member of
the county board who has supervision
of the roads, said today, establishing
a ruling for future guidance, which
will be of interest generally:
Il want to state just as forcibly as
i can, that after I have finished the
roads on which, am working, l shall
not undertake the improvement of
road until the persons living upon 1t
agree to get road drags and agree, to
use them regularly in keeping the
roads in repair 1t is impossible for a
county road force to keep up repairs
on roads thruout the county Such
work must necessarily be done soon
after each rain. It must be done when
the soil is inc plastic condition, and
must all therefore be done about the
same time. 1t fts something that only
the people who live along the road can
do The farmers In many parts of the
county are doing this work. They find
thatit does notinterfere with their farm
work, that It takes! little time or trou-
BILE. and that It IS effective in keep
ing the roads In excellent repair.
Large Sums Wasted.
UNLESS repair work Is kept up, It Is
a waste of money to improve the roads
During the last fifteen years Iowa has
spent $34,OO0,00Q on the roads, and a
large proportion Of this sum has been
wasted. The action Of the postoffice
department In demanding that the ru-'
raj route roads be maintained, Is not
unreasonable
Colonel Baker: expresses the belief
that the roads Of the future will be dirt
roads, thoroughly made with a solid
foundation and covered for a compare 4
lively narrow strip along the center
with gravel.
give inches ;of gravel rolled into
such a road after a rain is sufficient"
he said Where It has been found nee
essary to use more than five inches of
gravel the necessity Is due to the fact
that. the Foundation is not sufficiently
firm. Such a gravel road would afford
a solid surface In the Wettest weather,
and softer surface at the sides in other
times, would cost but little for con-
struction Of maintenance and would