Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-12

from which the underfow comes, In
all places on our highways where the
ground water comes nearer than three
or four feet to the surface for any up
preciable part of the year The sub.
drains need not and should not be used
Unfortunately. TO sub-drain all the
Iowa roads would cost $50, 100000, and
much of this money cost could be put
to better use.
"Third-Side Ditches.-Good side
bitches constructed to surveyors
grade, should be provided on each side
Of the travelled road to carry away the
water promptly to good, natural out
let. The slopes Of the side bitches
should be so fat on both sides as not
to prevent the use OF moving ma
chine.
"Fourth-Crown- road should
have well-rounded crown. sufficiently
steep to throw all water Immediately
to the side bitches.
"Fifth-Grading. The building Of
the side bitches and the crown, and
of entertainments and cuts constitute
the grading or building of earth roads.
which should be done entirely by care
fully organized and trained gangs o.
men, equipped with the best maLhin-
cry and employed constantly at such
work throughout the entire favorable
season.
"Sixth-Culverts and Bridges.-Cul-
verts and small bridges should be
built of permanent masonry, sucn as
reinforced concrete, and large bridges
Of all masonry, or of heavy steel, with
masonry foundations, where practic.
able, All culverts and bridges should
be located and built in accordance
with road engineers directions, and
according to standard plans and speci-
fications. The work should be done
by expert trained men. All contracts
should be awarded by open competi-
tive bidding, to the lowest responsible
bidder.
Seventh - Dragging.-Earth and
gravel roads should be kept smooth
and we'll crowned and earth roads
should be puddled by the constant, reg
ular use OF road drag after every
storm or rain. In this way earth roads
can be maintained in first class condi-
ton at all times except those of long |
continued storms, or when the frost is
going out In the spring
"Eighth-Weed Cutting and General
Maintenance.-The weeds and other
vegetation should be cut
regularly and all other miscellaneous
maintenance work Systematically at
tended to-.
'"Ninth-Hard Roads.-While earth
roads can be maintained in good con-
dition most Of the time by the road
drag the only way to make them serv-
iceable under all conditions of weather
is by surfacing them with hard ma
terials, such as gravel, broken stone
or brick.
Tenth Organization. The only
way to secure good roads or any fair
return for money expended on roads
is to provide thoroughly organized
administration Of road work by train
ed, expert road employees
Believing that the present road
taxes are sufficient to provide sys-
tenn of good highways if rightly ex-
pended, Dean Marston outlined COM
prehensive plan Of road organization,
such as he said private corporation
would form to build and maintain one
Of the finest systems of highways In
the world
His suggestions are as follows:
"First-A comprehensive road or
ganization could be effected by estab.
fishing county engineers with civil
service qualifications. appointed by the
supervisors, trained road su.
pervisors appointed, and to some ex-
tent supervised. by the township trus-
tees, but working directly under the
county engineers, and an enlarged.
non-salaried state highway commits
sion, with broad duties.
Second 100000 should be
set aside annually from the township
road fund for the exclusive purpose Of
dragging all earth and gravel roads.
"Third-About $1,lyO.O0O should be
devoted annually to permanent road
such as grading with
county gangs, and the con-
struction of gravel, stone and brick
roads.
"Fourth-The $1,76O.0oO collected
in the bridge fund should re
spent for permanent masonry or steel
bridges and culverts, according to
or special plans and specifi-
prepared ny the highway COM
mission and the county engineer. All
contracts should be awarded by open
bidding to the lowest re-
sponsible bidders, and only trained
bridge gangs should be employed on
work done directly by the counties.
"Fifth-About $1,O0o.0oO annually
would be left for repairs, weed cut
ling. miscellaneous maintenance and
Sixth-Th~ state could. with great
advantage, appropriate, say > per
cent of the cost of permanent road
building. not counting bridges and cul-
verts, up to a --oximum Of 100000
Der year, as a reward for the building
Of permanent gravel and other roads,
according to the approved
plans and specifications and under the
general supervision OF the highway
commission. Such an appropriation
would save a great amount OF present
waste by encouraging permanent i'm
and by insuring state sup
ervision.''