Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-01-12

the Doard. would aDonsn the once
Of county surveyor and have the du.
ties now devolving upon him per-
formed by the engineer. As q special
fund to be used for dragging the
roads, would set aside one-quarter
or one-third of the taxes collected
for road purposes and to be expended
by the trustees, and would forbid Its
use for any other purpose than that
of dragging Then it should be Pro
vided that the work OF road building
should be done before the fall Of the
year, when to work the roads, except
to drag them, means to put them Ia
condition often almost impossible
during the winter and spring months.
No Increase In Road Tax.
One OF the Just sources Of criticism
regarding the expenditure of road
J funds is that too much Of the money
collected for road purposes is In
vested In heavy costly machinery,
which is unnecessary in the care OF
the roads. Some such machinery Is
| needed, but too much Is simply a
waste OF funds. ! urge upon you
careful consideration of the question
| of better highways. do not, now
ever, recommend an increase In the
levy for road purposes, but the adop'
ton of means whereby better results
can be had from the income from the
present levy.
If hundreds Of miles of roads can
be put in shape and kept up on the
present levy, why can not many
thousands of miles be so kept II
proper attention and care is exer'
cised.
| The question Of state aid IN the
building of highways has been sub
ject of much discussion. am not op'
posed to state aid, but 1t is we'll to
consider where the money to be oher'
ed by the state is to come from. Some
kpeople discuss the question of state
| aid as though the state had unlimited
| means, derived elsewhere than from
the tax payers At present more than
| SO per cent of all the money expended
! by the state comes from 3.3 mills levy
! for state purposes. It scarcely needs
! to be suggested that to offer any con-
siderable amount in aid Of road build
| ing would mean an increase In the
levy for state purposes unless there
are other means provided for raising
I the funds. A few years ago when the
primary election law was enacted 1t
contained provision that Nthe stats
should pay one-half Of the expense OF
holding the primary. 1t only re-
quired one election to show the PEG.
pie that the money the state paid to
the counties it first collected from
them. That law was repealed at tho
f1rst session of the legislature follow
! ing it's enactment. II the people OF
the counties want to contribute to
the state in order that the state may
turn the funds back to them by aid
ing in the construction Of highways I
do not object, but I only wish to rec.
ommend such use OF the funds now
provided for as will, in my Judgment,
bring about better and more satisfac.
LOiy Ic6ulls. go
ut is we'll here also, think, to say
that the use OF wide-tired wagons has
proven a great aid to the keeping Of
highways in better condition. It has
been suggested that after given
time none but wide-tired wagons be
permitted for hauling heavy loads
along the public roads This is a
suggestion that is worthy Of your con.
sideration.
II believe that the road, laws Of the
state should be rewritten, in order
that they may be simplihed and
brought together in one continuous
enactment.
Use Of Fish and Game Fund.
"The last session of the general as.
sembly enacted law providing that
all persons desiring to pursue the pas.
time Of hunting in the state should
procure from county auditor of some
county of the state a license for
which an annual fee of one dollar
should be paid. The fees derived
derived from the sale Of the licenses
were to be forwarded to the treasurer
of state and were to constitute fund
to be known as the fish and game
protection fund, which should be used
for the protection and propagation Of
fish and game and for the care and
preservation of the lakes. An unex.
pectedly large amount of money was
received In this fund, which for the
first year amounted to $107,79s, and
since July 1, 1910, $6S,293 have been
received. There was in the treasury
January OF this year 1921 .S23.21 to
the credit of this fund.
"The remainder of the fund col.
lected has been expended in main.
tanning the fish and game department,
in the employment Of deputies, in the
care and preservation of the lakes and
in the protection and propagation Of
fish and game.
Liquor Laws We'll Observed.
1.-TWO years ago when I delivered
my inaugural address conditions in
the state were such that it seemed