Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1910-02-10
GOOD ROADS LAWS
Attorney General Byers Urges
Their Enforcement.
ROAD DRAG PROVIDED FOR
State Official Issue Letter Prepared by
Secretary Macdonald of Good
Roads Commission to coun-
ty Attorneys.

Des Moines, Feb. 5.--Attorney Gen
eral Bye-s has issued letters of in
struction to the county attorneys of
the state, urging them to compel the
enforcement of the laws at present
on the statute books. The instruc-
tions issued by Attorney General By
ers were drawn up by Thomas H. Mac
Donald of Ames, secretary of the Iowa
highway commission, and forwarded
to the attorney general His letter to
the county attorneys is follows:
Dear Sir: For the purpose OF Sc
curing your cooperation in work of
law enforcement of vital Importance
to the entire state, / desire to call
your attention to some of the statutes
covering the making, working and i'm
provement of the roads and highways.
Upon consideration / know you
will agree with me that road improve
ment in Iowa is largely a matter of
law enforcement, and to the end that
it may not be said that the law en-
forcing officers of the state are re-
sponsible for road conditions in Iowa,
/ ask you to join with this department
and the state highway commission in
an effort to put into effective opera
ton some of the laws which are man.
datory in form and which give prom
Use Of producing good results.
"First-Chapter 101, Acts of the
Thirty-third general assembly, makes
It the duty Of township trustees to
provide for the use of the road drag.
"This provision is mandatory and
covers all main travelled roads and
mail routes. The rate shall not ex-
coed so cents per mile travelled In
dragging, and compensation shall not
be- allowed unless the work is author
ICED by the trustees. This covers the
main roads within the corporate linn
its of towns and cities, and it is the
duty of the city councils to see that
its provisions are carried out.
"Second-The township trustees
and all other road officers are respon.
sible for the destruction of weeds on
the public highways. Chapter Sc,
Act of the Thirty-third general as
sembly.
This chapter fixes the responsible
ty for the destruction Of weeds grow
ing, not only on the highway, but up
On private lands as well, including all
depot grounds, right of way lands and
similar corporation owned or controll-
ed lots or land. So far as the high
ways are concerned, the trustees and
county supervisors are jointly liable
for weed destruction thereon.
"Third-The same chapter makes 1t
the duty of the board of supervisors
of each county to call the trustees
and road supervisors together, be-
tween November and April each year
for a school Of instruction, Chapter SO,
Act of the Thirty-third general as
sembly.
"The purpose of this law is to pro-
mote uniformity and more efficient
methods of road work in each coun-
ty. Persons who can give expert in.
struction in weed destruction and
road work may be employed at coun-
ty expense. The officers mentioned
are required to attend such meetings
as part of their official duties, and are
to be allowed the same compensation
for time as is allowed for their other
work.
"Fourth-Chapter 1873, Act of the
Thirty-second general assembly,
makes it illegal for any county or
township officer to act as the local
agent for culvert companies, bridge
companies, road machine companies,
or to purchase supplies which in any
way return a commission to him per-
sonally.
There is little need for comment
upon this statute, as it is clear and
explicit. 1t has, however, come to the
attention of this department that
there is more or less of the road and
bridge work handled in way that is
a clear violation of this statute.
II earnestly ask your cooperation
in the enforcement of these several
provisions to the fullest possible ex-
tent. Every community of the state
is vitality interested in the betterment
of the public highways, and a faithful
performance of the duties of public
officers charged with responsibility
for road improvement requires more
strict construction and enforcement Of
the road laws.
''This department and the highway
commission at Ames will be glad at
any time to take up with you any Of
these matters in greater detail, and
will be willing at all times to supply
all the additional information posi-
BILE. Yours very truly,
"H. w. BYERS, Attorney General"
Celebrate Big Victory.
In commemoration Of the storming
and capture Of Fort Donelson by the
Second Iowa infantry, which occurred
forty-eight years ago, the survivors
of the regiment will enjoy banquet
on the anniversary of the event, Feb.
Is.
Pioneer Editor Dead.
After an illness of more than a
year, Henry NJ. Belvel, aged 81 years,
pioneer editor of Des Moines and q
resident Of the city for twenty years
died at his residence of heart trouble