Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-11-30

grading and thing. We are aware that
the road grader when not properly
handled Is of no good, but use 1t as it
is intended to be used and it Is the
best road machine ever invented in its
place. Then use the King drag at the
proper time and you will soon have a
good road and one that will stay good.
In former article written to the
Courier | stated in that article a sys-
tenn which | thought If adapted would
greatly improve our public highways.
We here in Highland township adapt
ed this plan in part three years ago
and, of course, met with lots of op.
position and some yet think the old
way of road work is the best, and
when warned out to work their DOLL
tax they haven't time now and never
WILL SO you see how this matter is.
So the township trustees bought four
horses and equipped them and hired
two men by the month to work these
teams from April 1, to Nov. l. Now
during the first year the work was
mostly repair work as the road had be-
come almost impossible and many
P'esSSp l.
In the last two years we have graded
bridges Now in these bridges we
have used care not to put them in too
low, but we put them in SO they would
have a good outlet, and graded over
them, making some places quite fill.
When We get our roads graded to
grade and system of dragging adopt
ed then we will have the road problem
solved There is not township in
Wapello county but can own its own
teams and machinery and run the
township work as cheap, if not cheaper
than the old way. For this reason You
get the work done and at the proper
time.
Some advance the plan of going back
the old style of road working. Now
ct us appeal to reason, mixed with a
little conservatism and not so much
contraryism, and we will soon solve
tie road problem, for we must CO.
operate or We never will do anything.
Now Mr.. Old Style Roadmaker, | want
to ask YOU question or two Say
we go back to the old style Of road
work. Instead of paying your taxes in
ihoiiNy, you WI N lhSlu lNOW CO1Ico
the road boss and says, John, want
you to work the roads tomorrow ana
next day" What will be your answer?
You know what you would say nine
times out of ten: 81 can't possibly do
ir'-and so it is not worth while to
waste time on this part OF the sub
ject for the old way of road making
is and always was a failure.
Now a word to the Commercial as
ISOLATION of Ottumwa.
| see by the Courier you are trying
to get the people interested in road
dragging. Good for you-come out our
way we need a few missionaries in
old Highland. The King drag is one of
the best road tools we have. What we
like is organization, SO the work can be
done as quickly as possible and from
now until the first of May is the most
important time. My idea is that to
keep the roads up by system of road
dragging the territory that one man
has TO cover should be made as
small as possible. Not over one mile
and less when you can. My idea Is to
call meeting by school districts
meet at your school house and organize
and assign each man so much road
to drag and not less than one drag to
two men. After this is done for six
months there is no danger of any one
quitting it. The roads will be much
better and you will all burn your old
hats. Some men will laugh and make
fun, but go on, organize and go to
work, don't wait for good road meet
ing and spout around like we have
now for five or six years. What we
want is common sense work. Quit
talking idle talk. One days work on
the roads is worth more than five
years of talk. All we want is few
men to start the thing to going, then
they will all get into the band wagon
after awhile Who will be the first
to organize in our township. Don't all
speak at once for there is room for all
Respectfully submitted.
j. G. Davis.