Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1910-08-17
ROAD BUILT
INONE HOUR
Ten Thousand Iowa Farmers Rebuild
$50 Miles of Roadway Across
State in go Minutes.

Oldlt III w nlHulto,
Three hundred and eighty miles
of road straight across the State of
Iowa were rebuilt in one hour by
ten thousand farmers, with an out
lay OF not one cent, according to
story in Good Roads Advocate for
July.
The Advocate story follows:
The greatest piece of road build
ing the world ever witnessed was
pulled of in Iowa last week when,
in the short space of one single hour,
a line of road $50 miles in length
and stretching entirely across the
state of Iowa, was put in the most
perfect condition of any road west
of the Mississippi river. Weeks and
months were spent in preparing for
the work, but not pick nor shovel
was used until the designated second
was licked OF. Then, as II by
magic. 10000 workmen swarmed out
onto the roadway and when they
ceased work, 60 minutes later, Iowa
had one of the finest long-distance
roads in the West.
And not the least interesting thing
in connection with the tremendous
piece of work is the fact that not a
man of the entire 10000 engaged
ON the work received one cent of
wages. Good will and patriotism
alone are responsible for the SPLEEN
did showing. In addition to benefit
ing by the road which was built so
rapidly and so well, the State of
Iowa has received an impetus toward
good roads that will undoubtedly
land II in the very front ranks OF
those States which can brag on their
good roads.
Country Roads Fearful.
All those who have passed through
Iowa during the wet season have
marveled at the terrible conditions
of the country highways. With
practically no macadam In the State,
the country roads are of the "gumbo'
order in the winter, while in sum.
mcr they are nothing but long lines
OF dust which seem. at times, 10 rise
up and obscure everything within
ordinary sight
Last winter the Iowa roads he
came SO fearfully bad that traiiit
was practically killed and farmers
were compelled simply to remain in
their homes. The condition reach
ed climax and u general demand
for better roads was voiced all over
the State. Country and farm news
papers took up the cry and advo'
Gated that something be done.
Finally the matter of roads became
a political question, and both par
ties goti behind the movement. Gov
ernor Carroll called good roads
meeting at Des Moines early last
March. and out Of this meeting was
| evolved tho plan of river to river
road. stretching from Council BlunS
on the Missouri river to Davenport
on the Mississippi, distan g of $50
| miles straight across the State from
! east to west.
Advice of the Convention Followed
Make the riyer-to-river road IA
near perfect is Is possible to max,
Just common dirt" was the sense o
: the good road convention.
J Instead of appointing new com
mittces to handle the work, the reg
ular Republican and Democratic
| committees in each county through
which the road would pass were ap
. pealcd to. The chairmen of the com
mittees of each party were asked Il
get In the game and work for th'
road Every one agreed to do so, AM
soon a rivalry was created between
the Republicans and Democrats, eacl
to see which party would have tn
most workmcn ION the job" when tn
time for work arrived.
Last Saturday was selected as tn
day, and from . o'clock to 10 o'clocl
the hour OF work.
Every farmer along the way wa
personally seen by the committee
and practically every man agreed t
give the one hour that was askc
for. Farmers were asked to br!u
their plows, scrapers and road dag
and an organization equal to taos
employed In professional rriitoa
building was worked out,
In the weeks preceding tic W.T.
all bridges and culyerts along IN
road were repaired and pur in first
class order that no delay might com
to the road,builders whca once IA
latter started working.
The result of the o. sInI2ll!on Wa
shown laSN Saturday. Shufly BE-
fore 8 o'clock in the morning farm
ers began getting cut in the roal
Hundreds and thousands OF p uw
picks, shove a, sa.apels, road DRAG
grading machines ana other unpi,
ments were n,on"nt along, Erci
farmer brOlGhr his 'eum with bin
Superintendent hnd O'ersccls ha
, been APPOINTED Ia readiness whp.