Evening times-Republican., 1913-09-15
LEGISLATION REDUCING coUN.
TRY RoAp~wAvs PROBABLE At
NEXT SESSION.
EXPENSE OF MAINTENANCE
INCREASING UNDER NEW LAWS
Too Many Weeds Grow Along Sides Of
Roads and Agitation Continues to Re.
ducs Width-Hsnry Sabin to Spend
Declining Years in califernia-su.
prone Court convenss.
Special to Times-Repuhrican

Special to Times-Repuhrcan.
Des Noines. Sept. 15.-Legislation
looking to the narrowing Of the high
ways Of Iowa, or rather the cutting
down Of the highway right t-of way, is
entirely possible at the next session OF
the legislature. The special reason for
the same is that with the new weed
cutting law and others requiring the
care OF the entire right-of- the
expense is becoming greater than is
warranted. 1t would be possible to re-
duce the width Of the lanes in many
places with great advantage to proper
ty owners and the public.
The width of Iowa roadways was
fixed at sixty-six feet at a time In
Iowa history when 1t was supposed
there was an abundance Of land for all
time and that state might as well take
a plenty while it was taking. Now the
wide lines are filed with weeds and
1t is a burden on the trustees anu
property owners to care for all.
Some years ago bills were pressed
width Of the Iowa roadways from six
ty-six to forty feet. but these were
denounced as schemes of rich land
owners to get more acreage. 1t was
even then suggested that a scheme
way could be narrowed lat certain
places and be left wide at others, and
this may be done. so road men are
saying.
Henry Sabin. the veteran educator,
when he was superintendent Of public
instruction for Iowa recognized as on,
of the few really great educators Of
the country, will this week leave Iowa
to join the great Iowa colony in Cali
fornia to spend the declining years OF
a splendid life. Mr.. Sabin has been
living quietly in Des Moines for a
number OF years. His sons live in the
west. Mr.. Sabin goes there because of
the climate. and will live on ranch
near San Diego in retirement.
Are the waves Of public sentiment
in Iowa running high enough to beat
into the upper office windows OF some
headquarters buildings nowadays? 1t
would see so. At the recent convention
Of the Christian churches Of Iowa in
Keokuk, something happened the like
OF which was never known before, ana
it was that the Iowa Telephone Com
pany placed it's lines in Iowa at the
disposal Of the delegates for free use
to communicate with friends in any
part Of the state. The courtesy was
greatly appreciated by the delegates
Those who attended the convention
from Des Moines declare they were
never better treated anywhere than in
Keokuk. and that the old city mas in
deed taken on new life and energy as
the result OF the building Of the big
dam. They had the entree to clubs
and were given q great excursion on
the river on the biggest boat.
A big convention Is to be held in
St Louis in November to advance the
cause OF federal aid for the building
Of a transcontinental road and other
highways. Iowa will be represented by
several delegates and II is understood
that Congressman Prouty. who is
author Of one Of the best known Of the
bills pending for federal aid for good
roads. will be at the head OF the Iowa
contingent attending.
There will probably be larger num-
Der of lawyers present when the Iowa
supreme court convenes tomorrow for
the September term than for a long
time. There is great interest in the
manner of working out OF the new
system of having divided court. or
two divisions of the court. Besides
there are thirty-six hearings noted for
argument to the full bench commenc-
ing Tuesday morning and the usual
grist of new cases for submission. The
division of work for the session is as
follows:
First division. commencing the 18th,
cases from Districts /. 20, 2, 8 and Z.
Second division. commencing the
23d. Districts n. 5. 6 and Z.
First division. commencing Oct. IA,
Districts 8. 10 and IL.
Second division. commencing Oct. II,
Districts -. 13. IA and 8.
First division. commencing Nov. IL,
Districts Is and 16
Second division. commencing Nov.
IS. Districts II. 19 and IS.
This is the order in which the cases
for the entire state will be called.
Aside from the rehearing for this week