Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1913-08-08
DISCUSSION OF GOOD ROADS
Most That Has Been Accomplished In
Thirty Years in Iowa Is Senti-
meat-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 pet
ter laws and in the Improvement OF
the highways, but the most that has
been accomplished is an aroused pup
Tic sentiment III favor Of better roauS!
perhaps in favor Of permanent
rCa:3 Iowa will have permanent
roads whenever she wants them. sac
viii have better rural schools wheE-
ever she wants them. She will noe
have either before. Legislation awaits
public sentilGent--gonerally arouscd~
organized public demand. The next
great era in the development OF west
srn civilization is going to be called
by the historian TIE Era Of Perna-'
rent Road Building. We are now at
the very threshold of that era We
are face to fac2 with the problem,
10 state can An2er allow herself to
Es handicapped by mud, The econom-
IL waste Is enoe mona. Not In the W.
.urc can there be such thing az
really great up to-date state without
gcsc.i permanent roads. The great
chcapening OF the cost OF transporla-
ton OF the markets Of the country
waits on permanent roads. The In
slant great increase IN the value OF
land awaits the coming OF the psrlnA-
aent road. There can be no complete
solution of the country lie problem
in advance of the permanent road
The consolidated rural school Will SO
hating and crippled until the perma-
nent road passes the door. This is an
ideal that will be realized In the fu-
ture low far digtant 1t Is depenaa
upon the people Of the state. Ihis
general assembly ought. 1t seems 10
ME TO take hold OF the problem with
the end in view 20 ultimately realize
this ideal Nothing could, contribute
more to the greatness ofthe state ana
the welfare Of all Of the people. All
that Is done hereafter in the improve
ment Of our roads ought to be VITA
the view of permanency. Permanent
h-iJ ,nrpo0npntN EyE-
tens Of drainage, permanent estao-
Eshmcnt of grades-all with the view
OF eventually reccirinS the permanent
road With this purpose In view the
law should provide for the appoint
ment OF a county engineer. He should
be thoroughly competent ana not
necessarily a resident of the county
where appointed. There should also
b.s created a permanent highway COM
mission, composed of expert road men
aDG engn GERS with such powers and
duties In the way OF the preparation
of plans and specifications, estimates
of costs, advertising for bids and gem
eral supervision and control as may
afret careful consideration be deemed
uise. / can see no reason why pro-
vision should not be made for refer.
endum to the people Of the question
80 20 whether bonds OF the state
ghouId te issued for the purpose OF
raising money for permanent road
building. 1t would not incur a great
eyDense 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 1T 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
DDS and Of thought. In the meantime
our road laws, which now exist In q
disconnected and patchwork form,
should be revised rewritten and
strengthened for the purpose of secur
ing the best possible temporary roads
and for devtsing 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 opposh
ton. 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" '-.