Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-08-09
Local Comment

The present board OF supervisors =
entitled to public approval and en-
couragement for the vigorous way IN
which 1t has gone at the problem OF
road Improvement in this county While
there is considerable just criticism OF
the manner in which the work has
been done 1t still follows that board
which will 60 forward and do some
thing rs serving the public vastly more
even II 1t makes some mistakes than
board which does nothing with the
monies provided for road work.
However. the principal criticism OF
the work done by the county grading
crew is confined to the one complaint
Of depositing loose sod in the center OF
new road grade which leaves the
road almost impossible for all this
summer and will probably require the
graders to go back over the road next
spring. Supervisor Maytag thinks that
this sod can not be disposed OF any
other way but the most experienced
township road builders will agree that
in the long run it will be cheaper to
haul this sod to the bottom Of the
deep fills near the bridges and culverts
and get it deep down under a4road I'LL.
The ideal method. of course, as has
been followed by the trustees in Wash
ington and Vienna townships. is to
plow the sod q year before the road is
to be graded. The board hopes to do
this for future work
4
Supervisor Zines thinks that II the
y,ro
inches deep it could be pulled to the
center Of the road first and then when
the graders took their main bite the
loose dirt would be deposited on top at
the center. This might work where q
considerable fll rs 70 be made but one
of the most common faults in using a
grader on roads is to round up the
center much too high. An ideal road
grade should not be pitched to the
sides so as to tip vehicles perceptibly.
The cutters should be free for surface
drainage but the crown should be very
gradual Three fourths OF the grading
done leaves the sides Of the road much
too steep.
This has been a bad year for building
road grades in tina: there have been
no rains 10 help settle the earth and
soften 1t SO as to permit the drags to
smooth the surface. The new grades,
like a sewer ditch in a city street. stand
up in humps. However. the grades are
being made wide and II no: disturbed
again next year will under constant
dragging make for better roads eventu-
ally.
Under present conditions of some of
the new road grades Mr.. Moore Is
thoroughly justified in warning auto
mobilists to avoid them az these roads
when under construction are actually
dangerous and the new grade west Of
State Center unless greatly improved
will remain close to impossible for
most of the summer
The grocers' picnic proved so big q
success that 1t should be made an an
nual event. Many schemes are re-
sorted to from bean dinners, sauer
kraut days to Great White Way pic
MICS TO get crowd together in the
late summer and they are all 20 uni
versally successful that fl IL evident
people want something of the kind for
amusement 1t makes very little dit
ference what the occasion il for the
crowd is ready to come.
The accident at q street car crossing
this week evidences two decided needs
namely that there must be exercised
the utmost caution on the part Of
motormen for the public has not ye,
learned to look out for the cars on
these new lines and the public must
grow far more alert for with street car
extensions We have added a great
number Of dangerous street crossings
where there has never been a street
car to fear before.
The idea of making a boulevard
beautifully parked and lighted all
around the court house square and at
the same time provide islands Of safety
for parking automobiles is 20 univer-
sally approved that the board OF super
visors should undertake 1t immedia tely.
The paving east Of the court house
should be relaid this summer any way.
1t Is in fearful condition. The widen
ing OF the pavements west and south
of the court house to the sidewalk
line will greatly serve the public. Prop
erty owners and business men around
the square stand ready to install the
{! electroliers and the city will furnish