The Oskaloosa herald., 1912-12-19
BOOSTERS PLAN
!. PERMANENT ROADS
PROPOSITION TO BOND STATE
FOR $25,0oo,oOo ENDORSED.
TO HAVE EXPERT SUPERVISION
Bonds Issued to be Retired by One
Mill Levy and the Auto License
Money and Can be Done in
... Twenty-Five Years.

OIioh6
the prominent good roads boosters of
Iowa for permanent roads in the
state was evidenced yesterday after
noon at the Coliseum by the enthusi-
Iastic manner in which the delegates
to the third annual conference of the
owa Good Roads association received
every suggestion made by speakers
elative to plans for financing the con-
lstruction of permanent highways in
the state. That the time Is ripe for
permanent roads and that immediate
steps should be taken to secure the
funds for the construction of sys-
tenn of such highways through the
state was the concensus of opinion
among the majority of the delegates.
Harvey lngham, editor of the Regis
ter and Leader, says that the con-
vention recommended to the legisla-
ure plan for issuing $25,000,000 in
road bonds and to levy a 1 mill road
tax. The l mill tax would amount to
considerably more than $1,000,000 ne
cesary to pay the interest on the
bonds and the balance, with the
money secured from the automobile
tax, could be used to retire the
bonds. He estimated that the bonds
could be retired under. this plan in
twenty-five years, far within the life
of the roads. He urged the construc-
ton of permanent roads connecting
the county seats, north and west, OF
all the counties in Iowa.
eve are spending the present road
funds foolishly," said Mr.. Ingham.
I'VE should put up a man sized propo-
sition and build roads permanently.
Other states of less wealth and re-
sources are doing it and Iowa will
lose out unless immediate action is
taken. If permanent roads are good,
they are good for us now during our
lifetime. For thirty years we have
been driving away and have not &C.
complished anything. Let us go be-
fore the next legislature with a pro-
position that will secure results"
Discussion of permanent roads
was a feature of the afternoon ses-
sion. William G. Raymond, dean of
the college of applied science at the
state university, expressed himself
as favorable to permanent highways
and declared that the question was
mainly one of sentiment and state
pride. He urged expert supervision
for the construction of permanent
roads
!. }. TiShenDanner, of Gilmore City,
author of the TiShenbanner plan of
good road building, expressed him
self as favorable to any plan that
would secure permanent roads. He
urged the state association to accom-
plish- something in this respect as
soon as possible. He declared that
there IS q strong sentiment for per
manent roads throughout the state.
Paul Beer, of Des Moines, chairman
of the legislative committee of the
Iowa Engineering society, advocated
permanent roads and said that the
construction of such highways and all
road work, in fact, should be under
the supervision of state and county
engineers.
frank NimOCks, of Ottumwa, com
mended Mr.. Ingham's proposition, but
declared that, until permanent roads
could be secured, the dirt highways
must be kept in the best condition
possible by dragging.
G. d. French, of Davenport, presi-
dent of the Iowa Automobile associa-
ton. presented a project for bonding
roads to the extent o. $4,000, 600 and
using the automobile tax TO retire the
bonds. The auto tax, he declared,
will be doubled within a comparative
ly few years. He advocated brick
roads as the best permanent high
ways.
A. Marston, dean of engineering at
tie Iowa State college, said that local
preference should not rule in the To-.
cation of such roads and that the
highways between the central points
in the state, such as county seats,
should be improved first.
1T Is a shame" said Professor
Marston, that the investment of
$50,000,000 in automobiles In Iowa
should have to lie idle every time it
rains"
State and county organizations
should be provided for road admins
tration, according to the expressions
OF several speakers. They included
f. f. Jones, of Villisca, Joe l.. Long,
of Des Moines, editor of the Road
maker; James Atkinson, of Des
Moines. editor of the Homestead;
Jbl1tS :" I1OiutH, VI CCidnlOu, Nitsl-
dent of the State Supervisors aSso-
citation, and John L. Prindley, OF
Ames, author of History of Road
Legislation in Iowa"
The convention was called to order
yesterday morning by President La
fayette Young, Sr., who, following the
prayer by the Rev. DR.. George p Ma.
gill, delivered the opening address
Considerable which has Interested
our former conferences" he said,
will interest us yet. We must keep
up the discussion of the best way of
making dirt roads. We must continue
to discuss the dragging of roads.
Dragging is our most difficult problem.
As a rule when roads need dragging,
the farm needs labor, and II Is diff
cult for ones own work to be post
poned. There are several men in this
conference who will discuss the road
from the standpoint of ex-
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