Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1913-02-05
THE GOOD ROADS PROBLEM.
G. A. Meyer, Winneshiek County Su.
pervisor, Appears Before Leg
islative Committee.

The good roads problem is the mos
discussed and the most difficult tt
solve Of all before the legislature. Ev
cry interest seems to be represented
in upholding its idea, and the senate
and house committees are giving
careful consideration, before decid
ing upon any certain measure to re
port out to the legislature.
Members of the legislative com
mittee of the state association o
county supervisors appeared before ;
joint session of the house and senate
roads and highways committee in Des
Moines Friday afternoon for the pur
pose of submitting their recommends
tions on permanent road improve
ments.
G.. A. Meyer, of Calmar, member ol
the Winneshiek county board, made q
fspeech outlining the plans favored
by the legislative committee, which
have also been indorsed by the state
association, he said.
Following are the recommends.
tions made:
Classification of county roads into
a county road system and township
road system.
That all permanent work on the
county road system shall be done in
accordance with plans prepared by a
competent engineer and approved by
the board.
That all towns and trading points
shall be included in the county sys-
tenn with connecting roads.
That boards may purchase or con-
denim right Of way for roads.
That boards be given power to
compel the opening of highways to
their full established width.
That all pole lines on highways be
set within one foot Of the fence ines.
That all bridges and culverts of an
estimated cost of more than $1,000
be let publicly by contract. provided,
however. that the board shall have
power to reject all bids and re-adver-
tise or let privately or build by day
labor at cost not to exceed the low
est bid received.
That the building of all township
culverts shall be regarded as road
work.
Following his outline of the county
board plan, Mr.. Meyer invited mem
bers of the committee to ask any
questions which they desired concern
ing the program. A general discus
sion followed.
Senator Spaulding asked if the au-
to fund was available and a / mill
levy aggregating $1,60O,OOO for per-
manent road work if the supervisors
would be able to spend it to good ad-
vantage.
Mr.. Meyer stated he believed they
would. He declared that his own
county had a large amount Of road
work and that the money was not
wasted.
Later, in a statement, Meyer said
that he was not opposed to highway
commission If / mill tax were lev
led. He would oppose, he said, TAX
ing the automobile fund awag from
the supervisors. II am not here to
support a l mill levy" he said, but
II one is levied l would favor its be-
ing handled by the commission.
My county Is ready for state aid
at any time and you may be assured
we will apply for 1t at once when
available. l would be glad to have
the commission supervise the con-
struction of work on which we receiv-
ed aid. 1t would be a fine lesson for
our engineer, although we have one
of the best practical engineers in
the state. We will profit by the ex-
perience and go on and build more
roads just like it."
Following are the members of the
supervisors legislative committee at
the meeting: j. w. Holden of Scran-
ton, G. F. Johnson of Hudson; God
fred Hurst of Danbury, X. l. H. Tag
gart of Clarinda: G. A. Meyer of Cal
mar, j. j. Corrough of Grinnell and
c. Z. Summers of Mason City.