Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1910-01-05
GOOD ROAD ACROSS IOWA.
Movement to Build Road Across
State Receiving Statewide
Attention

~ interested In the subject OF gOOG
roads. For some years we have CIV
en- some study to this question, and
We have come to the belief that many
thousands of dollars are wasted each
year on public roads. We are also
of the opinion that enough money is
raised by taxes each year that, if
wisely and judiciously expended un-
der the direction of thoroughly COM
petent road builders, would in few
years result in not only great inn
provement in roads, but in the con-
struction of what may be termed per-
manent roads.
During the past few weeks the Des
Moines Capital, Iowas greatest dali
ly, has started movement toward
the construction of stretch of good
roads across the state. to be followed
later by the building of roads cross
ing and leadingeto it from other ,di-
rections. The movement is creating
widespread enthusiasm throughout
the state, and has elected the sup
port of many prominent road enthusi-
asts.
Following is an articles on the sub
ject from recent issue of that pa
per, which expresses our idea of the
proposition. and which ought to be
given careful reading by every citi-
zen of the state:
Would good road across the
state be expensive?
Would such road require any
extra taxation or appropriation from
the state?
These are questions that are con-
stantly asked in reference to the pro-
posed sample road which the Capital
urges to cross the state from Daven-
port to Council Bluffs.
The good roads editor, backed up
by practical road experts of the state,
believes that the state of Iowa spends
enough money on its roads every
year to have good roads. There is
ample provision so far as funds are
concerned. The great trouble Is in
the application of the funds, the
methods of building and in the lack
of proper supervision after roads are
built.
The Capital believes that the read
suggested and urged can be built by
authorities. using only a
portion Of the township road fund.
1t believes that there need be no neg
lect of other roads of the township
to accomplish the purpose.
The road upon which efforts are
to be concentrated should be se-
lected so as to be of most value to
the most people. It need not be a
straight east and west road. 1t
should be selected on a main travel
ed road into each market center, the
cross-state feature of the road being
only an incident. The route through
each county should be picked, it is
suggested, by commercial club COM
mittee from the county board of SUI
pervisors and the township authori-
ties.
After the road is picked the town.
ship road officers should make 1t a
point to put their own stretch of the
road into proper shape. It should
be graded where necessary, bridges
and culverts should be put into good
condition.
Under the authority of the road
drag law the supervisors should ar
range for the proper dragging of the
road after every rain. This work, II
1t could not be arranged without
cost. should be contracted for as the
state law permits.
In way this is the most import
ant feature of good roads building
and maintenance.
Great interest has been shown in
the proposition by the counties along
the proposed route, There Is every
indication now that enough entbusi-
asm can be aroused to warrant call
ing a good roads convention some
time early in the sprin. This should
be a state convention for the general
discussion of good roads problems.
AS side issue those county dele
gates who are especially interested in
the road across the state should get
together, discuss the immediate
problem before them and arrange
for the picking of the route from
county to county. These delegates
should work with the commercial
clubs, business men, county officers
and township ofiicials and carry
their individual part of the project
to 4 successful conclusion.
The argument has again been
made that road across the state is
not necessary; that what the farmer
wants and needs IS road leading to
his own nearest market. The good
roads editor again states that this
is Just what is intended. 1t will
necessarily zigzag to the north and
south. but the general route of the
road should be east and west, pick
ing so far as possible the main trav-
eled routes into each town and out
again. This would give each town
touched two good dirt roads leading
into it-one from the one direction;
the other from the opposite. This
road so built and constituting por-
tion of road across the state would
be Of Just as much benefit to the in
dividual towns as though that town
alone had built for itself two roads
from opposite directions on Its own
initiative and without any relation to
the whole general scheme.