Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-04-12
DISCUSSION OF GOOD ROADS
Most That Has Been Accomplished In
Thirty Years In iowa 10 sentl-
ment-Face Problem.


Gov. George W. Clarke. in mes
sage to the Iowa Legislature. touching
on good roads. said:
For, thirty years the discussion OF
the good roads problem has been go
ing on In the state. Many OF the gov
ernors of the state within that time
have called attention to the question
and some of them have urged con.
structive legislation. Some 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 whenever she wants them. She
will have better rural schools when
ever she wants them She win not
have either before. Legislation awaits
public sentiment-generally aroused
organized public demand The next
great era in the development of west
ern civilization is- going to be called
by the historian The Era OF Perma-
nent Road Building. We are now nj
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 econom-
ic waste is enormous. Not In the fu-
ture can there be such thing as q
really great up-to-date state without
good permanent roads. The great
eheapening of the cost OF transporta-
ton of the markets of the country
fta ttA fs.-
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 10 an
Ideal that will be realized in the fu-
ture. How far distant It is depends
upon the people of the state This
general assembly ought. 1t seems to
me, to take hold of the problem with
the end in view to 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 and bridges. permanent ays-
TENS of drainage. permanent estab-
lishment 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 county engineer. He should
be thoroughly competent and not
- 80 Alxn xAtx
where appointed. There should also
be created 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 as may
after careful consideration be deemed
WISE can see no reason why pro. =
vision should not be made for 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. It would not incur 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 q
our road laws. which now exist in a
disconnected and patchwork form.
should be revised. rewritten and
strengthened for the purpose ofasecur-
ing the best possible temporary roads !.
and for devising methods of adminis- 1.
tration looking to the coming OF the
road Selfish interests
clinging to old methods and advan- !
tages, may be found in covert opposi-
tion. Permit me to suggest that you
look carefully to this. as ! know you
will. to the end that private interests +
may not prevail against the common
good"