The record., 1913-11-20
Nass-N .rS
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GOOD
ROADS
DISCUSSION OF GOOD ROADS
Nest That Has Been Accomplished In
Thirty Years In Iowa Is Senti-
ment-Face Problem.

Gov. George w Clarke. In n mes
sage 10 the Iowa legislature. touching
on good roads. said:
For thirty years the discussion oi
the good roads problem has been go
ins on in the state. Many of the gov
errors of the state within that time
have called attention TO the question
and some of them have urged con
structive legislation. So,ne progress
has been made both In the way Of bet
ter laws and in the Improvement of
the highways. but the most that has
been accomplished is an aroused pub
lie sentiment in favor Of better roads
perhaps in favor of permanent
roads. Iowa will have permanent
roads wheneye: she wants them. She
yi.l have better rural schools when
ever she wants them. She viii not
have either before. Legislation awaits
public sentiment-generaily aroused,
organized public demand. The nexl
great era in the development OF west.
srn civilization Is going TO be called
by the historian The Era OF Perma-
nent Road Building. We are now at
the yery threshold OF that era. We
are face to face with the problem.
No state can longer allow herself to
be handicapped by mud. The econom-
&c waste is enormous. Not in the tu-
ture can there be such a thing as a
really great upto-date state without
good, permanent roads. The great
cheapening of the cost of transporta-
tion Of the markets Of the country
waits on permanent roads. Tho in
slant great increase in the value of
land awaits the coming of the perma-
nent road. There can be no complete
solution Of the country life problem
in advance OF the permanent road.
The consolidated rural school will 60
halting and crippled until the perma-
nent road passes the door. This is an
ideal that viii be realized in the fu-
ture. How far distant il is depends
upon the people OF the state. This
general assembly ought. II seems 10
me. to take held Of the problem with
the end in view 10 ultimately realize
this ideal Nothing could contribute
more TO the greatness of the state and
the welfare of all of the people. All
that is done hereafter in the improve
ment of our roads ought to be with
the view of permanency. Permanent
culverts ard bridges. permanent sys-
TENS of drairago. permanent estab-
lshment of grades all with the view
of eventually receiving the permanent
road. With this purpose IN view the
law should provide for the appoint
ment of a county engineer. He shouh
be thoroughly competent and not
necessarily a resident of the county
where appointed. There should also
be created a permanent highway COM
mission, composed of expert road men
and engineers with such powers and
duties in the way of the preparation
of plans and specifications. estimates
of costs, advertising for bids and gen.
eral supervision and control rs may
after careful consideration be deemed
wise. ! can see no reason why pro-
vision should not be made for a refer
endum TO the people OF the question
as to whether bonds OF the state
should be issued for the purpose of
raising money for permanent road
building. sIt would not incur q great
expense to determine whether or not
the people are ready to enter upon
this work which would add more than
anything else to the greatness of the
state, and It would at least be OF
great value In causing universal dis
cussion OF the subject which must al
WAYS precede any movement involving
the change OF long established meth
ods and OF thought. In the meantime
our road laws, which now exist in
disconn scted and patchwork form
should be revised. rewritten and
strengthened for the purpose of secur
ing the best possible temporary roads
and for cevising methods OF admins
tration looking to the coming OF the
permanent road. Selfish interests
clinging to old methods and advan
tages. may be found in covert oppoSl
ton. Permit me to suggest that you
look carefully to this. as I know you
will, 10 the end that private interests
may not prevail against the common
good"