The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-03-20
IowA's ROAD DRAG LAW.
Interpreted by Frank Nimocks, An
Expert Good Roads Booster
Builder, of Ottumwa.

tary of the Blue Grass road, has COM
piled list of questions and answers,
after studying the new road drag law
and getting rulings on it from the at
torney generals office that are not
very interesting, but are very instruct
i've to all who will have anything to
Go with improving the public high
ways in Iowa, particularly road super
visors, county supervisors, farmers
and road boosters in general. The
list is as follows:
Are road drags furnished by the
townships?
Yes.
What fund must be used in paying
for these drags?
These drags are to be paid for out
of the township road fund and no part
of the dragging fund created by the
l mill levy may be used for this or
any other purpose, except dragging.
In event the mill levy is not suf-
ficient to keep the road dragged as
contracted for, can other township
funds be used?
Yes When the dragging fund is
exhausted, the trustees may use 9TH
err township funds for this purpose.
May the salary and expenses of the
superintendent of dragging be paid
- 10 IN f,,n
Yes. There is no objection to the
trustees paying the superintendent
salary out of the regular township
road fund.
April 18th being often too late to
start dragging the road, I would ask
if the trustees could not make their
contracts with the superintendent
earlier in the year?
The Thirty:fourth general assembly
in an act passed three days after
the enactment of the new road drag
law, provided that the township
trustees shall meet on the first Mon
day in February and at that meeting
shall elect superintendent of drag
ging.
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 be
made?
The contracts with individuals for
parts of the roads to be dragged
should be made by the superintendent
of dragging during the winter before
the roads are ready to be dragged aud
have all arrangements completed
early.
Does this act apply to cities and
towns?
Yes. Section 4 of the act makes it
the duty of the city or town council
to cause the main travelled road
within the corporate limits leading
into the city, to be dragged and that
so far as possible, the provisions of
this act shall apply.
In event the superintendent of the
contracts makes contracts with al
great many persons for short stretch
es of road, would the township be
under obligation to furnish all drags?
The law makes it mandatory that
trustees should furnish drags, simply
so there might be no excuse for the
road not being dragged. Many peo-
pie have drags and it is the intention
only that the trustees furnish drags
where necessary. A great deal in
this matter must be left to the dis
erection of the trustees.
The law states that the compensa-
ton of the superintendent shall not
exceed $3.50 per day and actual ex-
penses and for giving notices to con-
tractors, he shall receive such addi-
tional compensation as the board may
direct. Do l understand from this
statement that the superintendent
might have his ordinary expenses
paid when away from home, ETC.?
The superintendent is entitled to-
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 attendance to his duties. The
should not be allowed
for such expenses unless they are
necessary, and as to whether they are
necessary and proper in given case,
is largely within the discretion of the
township trustees.
What roads should be dragged un-
der the provisions of this law?
The township trustees shall from
time to time designate what districts