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

The permanent organization shall
consist Of president, a first vice
president, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES who,
together with one member from each
congressional district In the state shall
constitute the executive committee.
This committee shall select one man
from each county In the state to act
as 4 vice president to this association.
And 1t shall be the duty Of the county
vice-presidents to cooperate with the
board Of supervisors in the holding of
county road meetings. 1t shall be the
further duty OF the executive commit
tee to meet at the call OF the presi-
dent and to perform such duties as are
usually required by such committee.
We recommend to this convention
the following gentlemen to serve as
permanent officers:
President, Hon. Lafayette Young,
Des Moines; first vice-presi6 ant, lean
w. G. Raymond, Iowa City; secretary
treasurer, Thomas H. Macdonald, of
Ames.
We recommend that the selection Of
the members of the executive commit
tee be left to the president, vice-presi-
dent, and the secretary-treasurer.
Enforce Drag Law.
The remainder Of the report Of the
resolutions committee was adopted. 1t
favored strict enforcement of the
compulsory drag law, the organization
of associations, and law requiring
supervisors to submit to the public all
bids for road construction above cer-
tain sums. Further the delegates COM
mended Governor Carol for his in
terest in good roads and thanked the
Commercial club and the people of Des
Moines for the treatment accorded the
convention. The fated provision, the
one which caused the trouble and by
the rejection of which the delegates
practically knocked the bottom out of
the governors good roads plan, is as
follows:
Sixth-That we advise legislation
looking to the placing of the roads OF
the state under trained supervision, in
Guiding the creation of state highway
commission, the appointment of a
state engineer. and the Office of coun-
ty engineer, the latter to be appointed
by the board Of supervisors and to in
clude in his duties those of the pres
emit county surveyor, and no person
should be eligible to appointment ex-
cept he be thoroughly skilled In the
work of general road drainage, road,
bridge and culvert building and con-
struction. We recommended that the
county engineer be empowered to en-
force uniform standards of grading,
bridge and culvert building and con-
Sroi ro en that ho
have supervision of the entire road
work of the county and the road Off
GERS of every township in an advisory
and directory capacity under the gen
eral direction of the board of super
7isors.
Resolutions Passed.
The resolutions adopted, with this
stricken. and as spread on the rec
ords of the convention are as follows:
We, citizens of Iowa, gathered in
at call of Governor Carroll,
believe that improved roads are the
most urgent need Of Iowa. We believe
that the time will come when the state
nay be provided with a system of per-
nanent highways, but we are of the OPP
MON that this cannot to any consider.
lble extent be brought about for some
,ears for the reason that public senti-
nent is not yet sufficiently crystalliz-
d as to the necessity for and the value
II such roads not as to what kind OF
roads should be built, and
because the people are not yet ready to
ak themselves the amount that would
,e required to build permanent high
ways. Therefore resolved:
First-That we urge the strict en-
of the compulsory drag law.
Second-That we commend the &C
ion Q those Iowa cities that are now
dragging the roads from
he business districts to the corpora
ion limit.
Third-That we urge the organiza.
ion of those Iowa cities that are now
'oads associations.
Fourth-That we indorse the excel
ent work Of the present highway COM
mission
Fifth-That we favor the construc-
ion of permanent culverts and small
BRIDGES of concrete or stone and TO
luther this work we recommend the en-
lctment Of law authorizing the quail
leu 0lSCJOTS VI cfCAy W 11oAiP W WV,
f they choose so to do, a special tax
or this purpose.
Sixth-That we recommend law re-
,uiring the boards Of supervisors to
ubmit the proposition to the public for
lids for road structures above a GER
ain sum, and that the building Of such
shall be under the supervi-
ion of the county engineer.
Seventh-That we extend to Cover
Tor Carroll our most hearty thanks for
.alling the present convention. We
re grateful to him for the deep inter-
.st he has shown in the public high
ways of the state, and we commend
i'm especially for the practical lines to
which the addresses and discussions
AVE been held. We believe that the
,reatest impetus the cause of good
Dads ever has known will result from
his convention. We would urge upon
he chief executive the advisability of
continuing the good work begun by a
all for a great state wide convention
text year.
Eighth-That We express the cordial
of this convention to the
Commercial club and city Of Des
.1oines for hospitality extended to us