Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1912-11-13
State superintendent in Strong Ap-
peal to, Iowa Teachers.
GOOD ROADS ARE IMPORTANT.
Factors in Development of Greater
Iowa" Include Good Roads
and Better Schools,
Says Deyoe.

the end OF more satisfactory social
and industrial rural conditions in
Iowa, was the keynote of the annual
address of the state superintende IT
Friday morning to the teachers of
the state at their big convention at
Des Moines. His topic was that of
Factors in the Development of a
Greater Iowa" He covered the sub
ject well and exhaustively. He sum
moned up the best thought of the
large group of public men who have
been for some years pushing forward
in every possible way for making
Iowa the best of the states.
Change in public sentiment con-
corning the established customs and
institutions is a process of seem ng-
ly slow evolution, declared State
Supt. A. M. Deyoe in his address. "Es-
pecially is this true in a prosperous
community dominated by the conser-
vatism of rural life Proposed re-
forms, even of the most practical ma
ture, must be reiterated over and
over before they become fixed prin-
ciples of progress. Too often the ex-
cuse is made that whatever was the
experience of the father should be
good enough for the son. Iowa far
mers are little more prosperous
and perhaps therefore little more
conservative than those of any other
state. Certain factors have been so
extensively promulgated as being of
paramount Importance to the devel-
opment of greater Iowa that they
have become matters of common
knowledge among the people. 1t
should be borne in mind, howeyec,
that rural Iowa has been educatedl
at the shrine of the small one room
school for the past seventy years and
it is but natural that the people cling
to an institution that is the out
growth of the eXpediency of pioneer
days. Public sentiment must simply
be awakened for better community
conditions by continued sensible
campaign of education. Our farmers
must be inspired with confidence in
their ability to provide better social
and educational advantages for their
children and themselves. Neighbor-
borhood pride must be aroused. Mod
or 1ap mi
interests should be placed above the
mere accumulation of dollars and adj
ditional acres to the farm"
Turning to the subject of the re-
lation of good roads and good
schools to the problem of the rural
life, Prof. Deyoe said:
Good schools and good roads are
the two most important needs in
rural communities. Both may be Sc
cured with but little greater expense
than the cost of maintaining the
present prevailing system of rural
schools and the Indifferent methods
used in road building. The consol-
idation of schools is not wholly de-
pendent upon the making of perma-
nent roads. The transportation of
pupils to school is being managed
quite satisfactorily in Iowa and in
other states where permanent roads
have not yet been established. How
ever, as matter OF convenience, in
many ways, good roads play such an
important part in rural life develop
ment, that our state should no long
er delay by legislative action to
adopt some systematic plan of per-
manent road construction. Approx
imately $3.479,3S2 was paid in cash
as road tax in Iowa for the year OF
1911. This amount does not include
the amount of tax expended in work.
The automobile tax for the year clos
ing June 80, 1912, was 5000,
which will increase from year to year
at the present rate. 1t is safe to es-
innate the total amount of available
road tax in cash as four million dol
lars, which should build at least one
thousand miles of permanent roads.
Ten years of permanent road con-
struction would give ten thousand
miles of good roads, whereas, If the
present method of road building con-
tinues, our roads will practically bel
no better at the end of the 1o-year
period than they are today. This
estimate takes no consideration OF
the road tax annually worked. which
would be available for use in neces-
sary general repair of roads. Better
social and industrial conditions VIII
follow the establishment Of good