Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-04
FOR VACATION PERUsAL.

The Des Moines Register and Lea
legislature that he take with him for
der commends to every member OF the
vacation perusal the recommends
lions Of Governor Carroll in his fare.
we'll message and Of Governor Clarke
in his inaugural address. Governor
Carroll and Governor Clarke could not
possibly have hit upon the same solu-
ton Of the road problem, the Register
and Leader asserts, II there were not
an organized and pronounced public
sentiment In Iowa. I
Governor Carroll said:
Heretofore l have emphasized the
Importance of properly dragging, grad
ing and draining the roads and max
ing use of materials at hand, because
I did not believe that our people were
ready for anything more, and also be-
cause those things constitute the first
principles in the construction OF any
kind Of roads. BY the above means
we have greatly improved the high
ways in, almost all parts of the state,
but believe we have now arrived at
a period when, without in any degree
lessening our efforts along the lines
of Improvement above suggested, we
ought to begin the construction OF
permanent roads Of stone, gravel, etc.
It has been suggested that a general
tax levy of mill be made. This
would not be burdensome, but would
yield on basis Of our present valua-
ton, only about three-quarters OF
million dollars This Is only about 50
per cent in excess Of the amount that
is now raised by the license on auto
mobiles and inasmuch as great deal
of the value of the automobile license
is practically lost because of the wide
distribution that is made of 1t l would
suggest that instead of mill levy
you so amend the law as to place the
expenditure Of the automobile fund in
the hands Of central authority.
II we are to undertake the construc-
ton of permanent roads it Is necessary
that we have permanent and active
state highway commission and this
commission should have charge Of the
expenditure, not only of the automobile
license. but of any other funds which
the state may raise, or provide for aid
in road improvement. If the auto
mobile license were to be thus used
it would be Immediately available,
whereas the return from a tax levy
would not be available until 1914.
Governor Clarke said:
The next great era in the develop
ment of western civilization Is going
to be called by the historian "The Era
of Permanent Road Building" We
are now at the very threshold of that
era. We are face to face with the
problem. No state can longer allow
herself to be handicapped by mud.
The economic waste is enormous. Not
in the future can there be such q
thing as really good up-to-date state
without good permanent roads. The
great cheapening Of the cost Of trans
portation to the markets Of the coun-
try waits on permanent roads.
I can see no reason why provision
should not be made for referendum
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. It
would not incur a great expense to de-
termine whether or not the people are
ready to enter upon this work which
would add moro than anything else
to the greatness Of the state, and it
would at least be of great value in
causing universal ulsCuoeAol VI 'o
subject which must always precede
anv moment involving the change OF
long established methods and OF
thought.
What Governor Carroll and Governor
Clarke have found In the present situa-
ton to commend, the Register and
Leader adds, any member of the legis-
lature can find II he will keep his
ewes fixed on the future greatness Of