Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-10-11
Hon. 0. {. ku'p Want. County Survey.

Hon. D. E. kuip Wants County Survey.
Editor Times Republican: / have
been following with great deal Of In
terest the editorials and discussion in
the columns Of your paper. as I have
always considered the road problem in
Iowa one of the greatest in truly
great state and too much discussion
and consideration can not be given to
1t. In order to approach proper legis-
lation with the thoroughness which
the subject demands we should study
the question from different angles and
nothing brings out more clearly the
COLLECTIONS or good features Of proposed
plan so much as thorough discussion,
and along these lines 1 note in your
issue of Sept. 30 the copy and COM
ment OF Melbourne paper criticising
the board Of supervisors for not having
appointed a competent person to fill
the position OF county surveyor. be-
lieve the criticism was perfectly just
and the county supervisors If they have
not or do not make such appointments
have neglected serious duty and UNI
der the Cosson law. which now applies
to county supervisors, would be made
law referred to (Chr "a Law of the
34th general assembly, is not optional.
as your comment would infer, but man
datory upon their part to fill the posi-
ton; the only optional part is whether
they (the supervisory use his service
for the making of specifications for tho
grading of roads and building of cul-
verts. And I think If you will study
the law you will easily see the reason.
The last legislature SO changed the
law that the building Of culverts and
the building Of grades will hereafter
be in the hands Of board Of supervisors.
and mill levy is made mandatory
for that purpose and the only road
work now in the hands Of the township
trustees will be repairing and dragging
of roads. 1 think you will find 1t was
the intention of the committee who
drew the bill that the grading and
building Of culverts should be let by
contract and it was the intention to
authorize the supervisors to employ
competent person, who should prepare
plans and supervise the work. Many
persons believe that better and cheaper
work may be obtained by letting this
work to bidders than by our present
unorganized methods and bids or plans
can not be prepared except by compe-
tent engineer.
Personally should like to see Law
pass making it mandatory to establish
grade upon each mile of road in
Iowa. I would have this grade show
the size of water shed and the height
and width of the culverts and the ma
terial from which they should be con-
!,
and the grades OH all roads. l would
have this prepared in form of blue
print and field notes. and make it a
matter of record in the office of the
county auditor of the different coun-
ties Of the state. and make it man
datory upon the county auditor to fur
nish a copy to each township clerk CT
his respective township, and as fast
as any public money (outside of that
necessary for repair and dragging) is
expended upon the road I would pro-
vide that it could only be expended
lawfully following out the plans laid
down by this grade. l believe it would
then be only a short number OF years
until we would have all over Iowa the
basis for permanent roads that is. a
scientific and comprehensive grade.
grant YOU lLc uISl eApcIlSe WOuIO NC
somewhat large, but would be nothing
compared to what we now lose every
year by workmen going out and un-
doing what their predecessors the year
before had at least practically begun.
I need not quote you concrete cases
as any one driving over our roads can
see cases in his own immediate
reighborhood in five mile travel or
even less. Of money that might have
been saved but has been practically
wasted by the method which We have
followed. BY plan such as I have
outlined I would also obviate the ne
cessity Of saddling upon the county or
state permanent engineers at fixed SAL
aries for any one Of average intelli-
gence from profile and field notes could
tell when he had reduced q hill say
four feet from surface and filled the
hollow say three feet with thirty feet,
base of grade and slope of two to one
as easily as he now goes to the coun
ty auditors office and gets his plans