Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-08-06
HOW THEY USED AUTO TAX.
[Cedar Rapids Republican,

The Upton Conservative says that
in that county, Cedar. they are dis
cussine the uses to be made OF the
automobile tax which has accumulat-
ed to the amount Of 5000. This sum
divided among the. various road pre-
cincts WIN NOT he Of gTeat help.t TO gapS
one of them. The Upton paper asks
for suggestions and discussions.
We are not Of Cedar county, but
the Conservative will pardon US X we
also accept its invitation to oner sug-
eestions and to make discussions. Re-
Gently the writer visited some gooo
roads in Fayette county. constituting
the Fayette county portion OF the
North Iowa Pike, an automooiie roao
running from Dubuque to Sioux CITY
Union. Hawkeye and westward. III
that part Of the state they have long
boosted Of their good roads and the
North Pike was swerved from its d.
rect course TO take in the good ROADS
between Postville and West Union.
The Fayette roads are not only ex-
ceedingly good, but they are scenic
beyond, or at least equal to anything
IN Iowa. 1t is the hilly country OF
iowa. the little Switzerland OF the local
poets.
The roads from West Union west
ward were the main problems Tnere
the country becomes more fiat as II
merges into the rich prairies.
The Fayette county authorities ad-
dressed themselves to the problem ana
thew took the bold step OF making one
road thoroughly good, expecting III
| the future to connect other roads with
this one good thoroughfare. Inls
good road begins at West Union anu
leads thru Hawkeye, ono OF t.le
| nrettiest and most substantial OF the
smaller towns OF the state, situaten az
Il 1, in the center Of an Agriculture.
section Of unsurpassed fertii1ty anu
productiveness.
The road was surveyed by real sur
yeyors and every bridge and cuiver'
laid out according to surveyors notes
| A grading gang was then set 10 "orh!
not to throw up a little dirt mere anu
there. but to make a Thoroughly sooo
road. The high hills were lo"eFeo
and the hollows were filled, all accor-
ding to the stakes set by the surses
ors and as railroads build their H'sh-
ways. A better Job OF grazing wus
probably never done on an LOWE ro - !.
lIt is still a little uneven on top uu'
q few applications Of the kins ulae
will even those places and tnen Tux
dirt road viii be almost per1ect
Neither will it be affected by rams 1o'
/! tho drainage Is perfect and tho cfown'
ling is complete. In that piece OF ro.o'
way, we believe. they have the Dee'h'
nines of a nearly perfect d!rt toao.
That is the way to build good roads
Nothing will ever be gained by pio"1ne
I'D a patch here and throwing up
l few scraperfuls there. II must 2.
done uniformity and continuously. al
lother efforts are wasted ana wors'
than none at alD
we understand that Fayettes count!
!::.sA the bulk Of the automobile ta1
on that piece OF road, holding TO tn'
theory that the moneys contributed o!
the automobile owners can and snoui
he used for such continuous roadways
The law under which the automopal
taxes are to be expended are Hoefa
J enough 70 warrant such action 70
there II a clause IN those laws whicl
"a to the effect that the expenditures
shall be made on surveyed roAos
which means roads in which survey
orr have set the proper stakes.
|. prison labor. from West Union, VA
a,xo used on that road. under IN
superyfsion OF the sheriff IN perser
I'VE understand seventeen men noin
i, time In the county nil we're efzsSsoSe
!. on the road and that tAey dfd e eness
fully. glad OF an oppdE esnSs2z 20 g
! lout Of doors, ussfuily sEnpf0yed.
, If these suggestions are worth any
Ithfng to Cedar county, o. 70 any othe
, c0unty. they win not AoNo been No. 1Ae