Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-23
FARMERS SHOULD
MAKE GOOD ROADS
PRESENT ATTITUDE Is IN NEED
or ABSOLUTE REVERSAL;
MEANING TO PEOPLE.
MEANS TAX SAVING
Maintenance Of Good Roads for Period
Of Year Will Eliminate Road
Tax Except for Drainage.
Bridges and culverts.
MEANS TAX SAVING

more that the good roads enthusiasts
believe take the wrong view Of the
excellent movement that is bringing
wonderful results for the progress of
Iowa. Good roads in front of farms at
the present time means much to the
farmers and as the movement is ex.
tended, they are beginning to see the
great Improvement and bOundless
benefit that Is being brought about.
But many neighbors have not con.
sidered the good roads proposition as
fully and deeply as it should be and
are therefore inactive.
The greatest difficulty IN securing
good dirt roads is not in the cost Of
the drag, for that is merely nominal,
nor the time required to operate it.,
but moral difficulty. A great many
farmers look upon the subject in this
way, says the Kansas City Journal.
The Farmers View.
They say they have paid their taxes
in cash. as the law requires and it is
the business OF the trustees to see that
it is expended properly. 1t is the busi-
ness OF the road supervisor or con-
tractor to do the work under the direc-
ton Of the trustees, and having done
this, why should they go to the trouble
Of smoothing up the roads along their
farms?
They do not intend to do something
fG~ nothing. The responsibility is not
g.. them. It is on the men to whom
they have furnished the money to do
this work and they do not propose to
do It.
This is especially the case with a
retired farmer. He is a little dis
gruntled. anyhow. Heretofore in leas-
ing his lands he has compelled the
renter to work out all the road tax ex-
cept that which Is specifically pay
able in cash. The new law comes In
and says It must all be paid
The renter says this is part Of the
taxes and he does not have to pay
It; It is the part of the landlord to pay
his taxes, and he is not going to help
him out
This is the hardest proposition We
are up against, and the only way
which we know that 1t can be re-
moved is to develop different code
OF ethics among farmers; In other
to get a little practical applied
into this road business.
The disciples OF Christ were good
deal In the position of the average
farmer; they wanted first to get the
most there was in 1t for themselves, |
hence they were constantly scrapping
among themselves as to which should |
have the highest honor in the tenn
poral kingdom which they believed |
until the last that Jesus was about to |
establish.
II lot 10 10 v,,i1
ance and by which to measure char
acter. "He that is greatest among
you, let him do the most service" He
never said word to them about
up for their rights, but he
had great deal to say to them about
their duties.
Now, II We could get the farmers in |
sections where this good roads train
has visited to quit thinking about the
money that they have paid for taxes
and think about the duty to them
selves as we'll as to their neighbors
md the whole community OF having a
good, smooth road In front of their
farms, we could solve this good roads
problem. in those localities at least, ,
within the short space of one year.
Cost To-. Very Small.
It will cost the farmer with a half.
nile road from Is cents to $500 for a
Tray; probably rs cents worth of labor
where ne has log which he can split |
Up, or perhaps 81 in labor and lumber
where he has to buy the lumber
1t will cost him not more than $1.50
n labor which would otherwise be
wasted to keep his half-mile road
smooth each year. The simple question
8 whether he will forget about his
Dad taxes and do this without asking
anybody for any pay, but as service
lone to the public, or whether he will
lit back and say:
II have paid somebody else for do
ng, it. and let them do 1t or let 1t go
lndene.' AS a matter Of fact 1t will go
lndone unless the farmer or land
,wner has this public spirit that will +
induce him to de 1t without remunera.
ion
The railroads, the elevator men and
he town merchants are quick to see
he value of these good roads. They
tnow very well that there is just a
certain amount of business to be done
n any community; in other words,
ust certain amount Of farmers /
wants to be supplied, 80 much grain
md live stock to market, and so many
foods to be- bought.
They see perfectly clearly that
While the farmer may be Indifferent
bout the road in front Of his farm,
le is not Indifferent about the roads
,etween his farm and town. ~:
Tho Fruit Of Good Roads.
Where, for example, there are two
orSr hi oh
eting for5 the farmers trade, the !.
merchants see that If they can get the
Dads put in first class shape the
a rmoro u,bo orc noaraat Tho noxf