Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-16

49, munity and the site of the State
Industrial School for Boys, Hardin county
makes no further claim TO pre-eminenoe
compared with the other n.nety-eight coun-
ties of the Hawkeye state.
Near the center OF the county is Jackson
township. Its largest town is Owash. Jack
son township Is similar in all ways. except
ing one, to the rest of the county. It's long,
level stretches and it's low, rolling hills
typical prairie land-make the topography
of its thirty-six square miles like the other
townships which surround it. The single
exception, which is at the same time a DIFF
ference and a distinction. when compared
with its sister townships, and for that mat
ter others of the state, are It's good roads.
They are of such general excellence and
such a source OF pride to the inhabitants
or the township that they are called high
way boulevards, and they well deserve the
name.
Z The traveller may cross the state from
keokuk to Sioux city, from Dubuque to
Council Bluffs, and he may traverse All OF
It's highways and byways, but not in am
other section viii he find roads to compare
with them.
Because of its good roads and the sys-
tematic work which has transferred them
from impossible quaginires into highways,
N'FNA ~ nut bAls HAsNAplt, DQL WnlGn IN
most places during most of the year are
ga smooth as the average paved street,
yfekson townships fame has spread all
yoVer Iowa. The township stands alone as
, the first one In the world to adopt a plan
OF systematic road dragging with a King
drag. With no other materials but the
clay and loan, which are the top soils OF
that section, and with no other implements
but the grader and the King drag, the men
OF this township, under the leadership of
Flentiss Ransom, road superintendent of
Owasa, have built up ana maintains high
ways the like OF which, when material used
Is considered, cannot be surpassed in tho
entire west. They have demonstrated be-
You'd the possibility Of successful argument
that the making of good roads in mud
ridden Iowa without The use OF crushed
stcne' macadam, gravel, cinders or sand,
All OF which are expensive, and none OF
which are TO be had In jackson township,
can easily be accomplished.
siNty-FtNe Miles OF -BOuIeVards.
siNty-five miles OF highway boulevards.
To these siNty-five miles of excellent roads
the people of Jackson township point with
pride when the wayfarer 10 within it's gates.
stretching back ana forth across the town
ship, dividing II into hugh squares like a
gigantic checker board, run the highway
~bouievards Of which the township Justly
n boasts. Some OF them run for six miles
as straight as the bee flies. dipping
through shallow valleys and rising over
undulating hills and knobs, And every
foot OF II Is like every other foot, wide.
smooth and hard. Graded 10 the center L.
shed water. dragged to "A smoothnesi
almost unbelievable for dirt roads thcs
are a delight TO the auto owners, IN,
farmers, the residents OF the township il
general. and especially to their maintainer,
and the riginator OF the idea, PrentIs'
Ransom.
Mr., Ransom, originator OF the 'sys
\ tematic road dragging" By townships is
hard headed farmer whose predominatinl
traits are good common sense and stick
toiiveness. For years he entertained
ideas touching on the question OF makinl
good roads, and the possibility OF turning
SSay and loan highways into smooth hare
fads. He argued his ideas preslstenul
when ever he could get a hearing. III
was an enthe-.sst on the subject, Even
tually his elamor for systematic road max
inE gained attentive ears and he was ap