The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-01-17


after the enactment of the new road
drag law, provided that the township
trustees shall meet in the first Mon.
day in February and at that meeting
shall elect superintendent of drag.
ging.
Q.-Since the superintendent of drag
ging is to be elected on the first Mon
day in February when should drag
ging contracts with individuals for
the various parts of the roads he
made?
A.-The contracts with individuals
for parts of roads to be dragged,
should be made by the superintendent
of dragging during the winter before
the roads are ready to be dragged and
have all arrangements completed
early.
Q.-Does this act apply to cities
and towns?
Ayes. Section of the act makes
it the duty of the city or town council
to cause the main travelled road with
in the corporate limits leading into
the city, to be dragged and that so
far as possible, the provisions of this
act shall apply.
ON event the superintendent of
dragging makes contracts with great
many persons for short stretches of
road, would the township be under
obligations to furnish all drags?
A.-The law makes it mandatory
that trustees should furnish the drags
simply so there might be no excuse
for the road not being dragged. Many
people have drags and it is the inten-
ton only, that the trustees furnish
drags where necessary. A great deal
in this matter must be left to the
discretion of the trustees.
Q.-The law safes that the compen-
sation of the superintendent shall
not exceed $3.50 per day and actual
expenses and for giving notices to
contractors, he shall receive such adj
ditional compensation as the board
may direct. Do l understand from
this statement that the superintend
ent might have his ordinary expenses
paid when away from home, etc?
A.-The superintendent is entitled
not to exceed $3.50 per day, but should
be reimbursed for his actual expenses
while engaged in the discharge of his
duties and such expenses would seem
to include meals and lodging, when
away from home, postage and convey
ance in attending to his duties. The
should not be allowed
for such expenses unless they were
necessary, and to whether they arc
necessary and proper in a given case,
is largely within the discretion of the
township trustees.
Q.-What roads should be dragged
under the provisions of this low?
A.-The township trustees shall
from time to time designate what
districts must be dragged, which
must include all mail routes and all
main travelled roads within the town.
ship. The trustees would probably
be the best judges as to what roads
are the main travelled roads.
Q.-The act says: (Section 2, page
3, of the pamphlet, line s. "the amount
to be paid for such dragging not to
exceed the sum of fifty cents 500 per
mile for each mile travelled back and
forth while dragging the roads" |
judge that means that if man has
a six-mile stretch and goes over the
road and comes back, he would be
entitled to six times so cents or $500.
and l would judge further, that if the
road could not be cared for by one
round of dragging that he could draw
double the amount of money, or $500,
if he had to travel over this six miles
and back again. l would think this
would only be fair, for some roads are
very narrow and need but one round
while other main travelled roads near
err town, could not be kept in, condi
ton by making one round. Especial
ly do l know this to be true on the
main travelled roads in and out of
Ottumwa, for have superintendent
the dragging here for several seasons.
I presume these details will be left
pretty much to the superintendent Of
dragging, as he will have to protect
the township from being imposed up
on. In other words, should Judge
that his discretion would be such
that if he found a main travelled road
for three miles out Of town would
need two rounds of dragging instead
of one, he would make such arrange
ments. What is your judgement
about this?
A.-The question has been pro-
pounded a number of times and this