The record., 1913-09-04
DISCUSSION OF GOOD ROADS
Most That HAS Beea Accomplished ~
Thirty Years in Iowa Is Senti-
ment-Fscc Problem.

Gov. George W. Clarke. il mes
saee to the Iowa legislature, tonchns
on good roads, said:
For thirty years the discussion al
the good reads problem has been -.
ius On in the state. Many Of ta' gnF
crul.S Of tho state within that uAle
have called attention 20 TIE question
and scme nf them have urged con
ttTUctive / gislaliGn. SCgle progress
has been made both IN the way ol net
tor laws aul In tnc iMp9oVe3 II q
the Highways. but the most that Aas
be,a accomplished IS an aroused pnN.
. lie sentiment in favor u N"r r'aaH
-Ecih.ts "a favor ct permanent
roads Iowa viii haze pe.a2n"E'
ra.Ss whcnevc. she wants thea Sac.
+ viii have better ruya! fcAcois w'eA-
! ever she wants thc.G. she @.il n"'
( have Cjthrr acic-o lH".,la-.o1 awaits
pubic sentimeut--rener2i'y aroused
crglaizcd public demand Tho neN
elC..i era IN the development OF west
srn civilization is coing to be cai'ed
hy lna historian The Fra q. Fcg;'
rsnt Road ruildirg. We are neW al
the cry threshold oi that era We
ere tace to face With the problem
No ate can longer allCw herself q,
re Handicapped by mud The ecoAo'n-
t. waste Is enormous Net IN the IA
tGre can there be such thing as D
really great up.to-date state without
Ir8d permanent roads. The SrH@t
thcapcniue az tine cost Of traaSlolt"-
ton of the markets cf the country
waits on permanent reads, Ihe Ia
slant 2reat increase in the value oi
land awaits the cca1iuE og The nerma
rsNi road. ThcTc c3n be no cunrie'r
solution of the country lie problem
in advauce &C the permanent roah
The consolidated ruya! scA1o' WIZ sa
hal.nc arl criFrle9 nn'll the p-raa
ncut read p.a-ca the door. THIS i# an
ideal that VIII b realized IN tn IT,
fnye low far distant il Is c.IeaJ-
upon The people cf tha state ms
general assembly ought. il sce"7 =.
me 10 take hold uf the problem win
tho end in view to ultimately Tea.i-'
this ideal Nothing could contribute
more 90 the greatness al the state an,
the MCltSre OF all of the -people. ~
that is done hereafter in the improve
r3ent Of cur roads ought 10 be Will
tho view Of permanercy. Permanent
culycrts and bridges. permanent sys
tens Of drainage, permanent oS'ao
Eshmert cf Crades-a!l with the yieN
of eventually receiving the permanent
read. With this purpose in vie" IN
law should provide for the appoint
ment Of county engineer. lie sEoai,
be thoroughly competent ard nc
necessarily a resident Of the count.
where appointed. There should ais
be created a permanent highway com
mission. composed OF expert road ne
and engineers with such powers an
duties in the way CT the preparatic
Of plans and specifications. estimate
Of costs, advertising for bids and ger
eral supervision and control rs ma
after careful consideration be deeme
wise. | can see ro reason Why PR
vision should not he made for reie
end.n to the people CT the questio
as 10 whether bonds CT the stat
should be issued for the purpose
raising money for permanent roa
build,rG II would rot incur a eEe;
oxDenec 10 determine whether or N
the people are ready 10 enter upc
this work which would add more tina
ANYTHING else to the greatness or II
state. aud II wculd at least be
great value in causing universal d
cussicn Of the subject which must ;
WAYS precede any movement involVii
the change of long established met
ods and of thought In thc meantin
cur rocd laws, which now exist in
disconn ,ctcd and patchwork for
Y should be revised, rewritten al
A strength cned for the purpose of scc'
e ing the best possible temporary rca
N and for GevisiEg methods Of admin
n tration i9okin3 TO the coming OF I
10 rermauert road Selfish interes
,e clinging 10 old methods and adva
W tages. may be found. in covert oppo
10 ton. Permit me TO suggest that y
n look carefully to this, as ! know y
n. will, TO the end that private interc'
may not prevail against the comm