Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-16

added to the farmers wealth on last
years crop 1925, 100000 and would
have made the total value of their
crops 100000 100000 instead of 49,
| $3.50, 100000.
The total cost of hauling the pro-
| ducts Of the farm to the railroad sta
tions in the United States on account
of bad roads is greater than the COM
bined total cost of all freight transpor-
tation by railroad and boat from the
stations to the ultimate places of des-
tination in the United States or
Europe.
It cost Iowa last year to haul its
II 100000 ton crop" to market, over
$24,0O,O0O, or over 50 ton. France
would have saved on this Transports
ton over s13,000,000.
Iowa has 10000 miles of dirt road.
We have $4,000 miles of so-called
mair travelled road. We could pave
or macadamize this $4,000 miles OF
main travelled road at $4,000 per
mile, or total of $3.50 100000, which
represents less than our loss would be
In twenty years at the present ratio.
Iowa is spending 100000 year
on coed roads and losing $13,0OO,OO0
on ad roads.
Great Improvement in Iowa.
Over 5000 miles of Iowa roads have
been laid out from river to river and
from north to south. by good reads
and automobile associations within
the past year. These roads are now
being measured up, marked and map
ped and will be published and routed
by the Automobile Blue Book Co., for
next years USE Most of them also
will be published and routed by the
Iowa Publishing Co., of Des Moines
Some OF these roads are known as the
River-to-River read, blue Grass road,
Trans.continental road, Corn Belt
road, Waubansie trail, The White Pole
road, The Hawkeye highway, and
some ether river-to-river reads, be-
sides a number of cross state roads
from north to south. 1t is estimated
that en- these few roads which have
been laid out, and marked for the
benefit OF the traveller, over $500,00O
has been donated by the men along |
these reads and this money will be
en- them in grading, drain
ing, dragging and placing in perma- |
nent concrete bridges and culverts,
during this season and next. l leave |
It to you whether or not these roads |
are worth more to the farmers than
their rural routes. If these farmers
can be induced voluntarily to separate
themselves from one-half millions dol
ars for the Improvement of these
highways past their FARMS can they
lot be asked, without offense, to see
hat their road is kept in first class
condition along their farms for the
'enefit of the United States govern
aent and themselves?
Those who have been advocating
,ood roads in and out of season for
ears past, should congratulate them
elves that the advent of the automo-
lie is making thousands of converts
ally to the cause Of good roads.
here are being more automobiles sold
} farmers in the state of Iowa this
ear than to all other persons COM
ined. This should be encouraged for
all farmers owned automobiles, the
God roads problem would practically
e solved
The matter of better roads is now
sceiving attention from our national
ongress. Senator Simmons at the
lst session of congress introduced a
III for experimental improvements on
lral delivery highway appropriating ,
1e million dollars. Senator Swanson =
SO introduced a bill appropriating ,
7enty millions annually for five ~
ears to aid states and communities y
the construction of roads. There .
no question before, the American y
lblic today that is of more vital i'm .
ortance than the subject Of good =
'ads and fnasmuch as the rulal free q q
elivery department is in a position :,
encourage this matter, | believe !.
ley should eliminate as far as pos =
BILE, all red tape which causes ex-
aordinary delays and grant a rea-
unable authority to their subordin- "
es. .A.-" n