Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-02-12
BIG MEETING OF TRANscoNTl
MENTAL RouTE-pELEcATEs
ORGANIZE FOR ROADS.
WILL URGE LEGISLATURE
TO DO SOMETHING
Oppose State Roads at State Expense,
But Favor State Aid, State and
County Bonds, Special Assessment.
Districts and Division Of Cost Be.
tween State, County and Property.

This is the best meeting this as
sociation ever held" said President W.
G. Haskell, of the Transcontinentai
Route Association, regarding the meet
ing to organize for the ocean-to- ocean
highway. 1T is composed of men who
have a more intelligent understanding
Of the road problem than those who
met in the state conference at Des
Molnes," added Mr. Haskell
Every county along the route was
represented and even a big delegation
from Hardin county to the north, in
terested in getting the proposed high
way located as close to them as pos
sible, was present.
President A. A. Moore, Of the Mar
shalltown Club, and the vice president
Of the route association for Marshall
county: welcomed the visitors in few
remarks.
Mr.. F. ]. Tishenbanner, of Gilmore
City, a road enthusiast. spoke telling Of
his trip to Washington, where he
learned that the congress was seriously
considering an appropriation for one
CT two permanently improved and
scenic highways across the continent
from coast to coast. He told Of the
fine stone roads he had seen in In
diana, Ohio and Illinois, and urged the
Trancontinental people not only to CO.
operate with other states to secure the
governments ocean to ocean highway.
! but to get to work building hard sur
faced roads.
Mr. D. w. Norris, Jr.. addressed the
meeting upon the subject of ''Perma-
nent Road legislation telling OF the
kind Of laws prevailing in the other
states and of the road building accom-
plished under them. He said that half
the states in the union were giving
state aid for permanent roads. and
that two thirds were issuing county or
state bonds so as to distribute the
first cost of permanent improve
ment in easy payments over q period
Of time approximating the life OF the
road.
He outlined a plan for Iowa, which
would create a fund for state aid out
of the auto tax and gun license tax
and recommended state highway
commission to administer it. His plan
provided for the issue Of both state
and county bonds within conservative
limits, and for the division of the cost
one-ti1ird to the state. one-third to the
county, and one third to the property
benefited within two miles of the road.
He recommended provision for the
creation Of special assessment districts
above all other things. because that
would permit localities to go ahead on
their own account. He was decidedly
opposed to the state building any
roads all at state expense, and con-.
sidered 1-mill levy without provision
for state or local bond issues mere
temporizing, as no large public inn
provsments like court houses. or water
works were ever attempted out of a
single years tax money.
Mr.. w. F. Coan, Of Clinton, explained
several route signs which he had de-
signed and reported that the firm OF
Peterson, Bell & Co., of his city, would
donate all warning or danger signs
needed on the route and that r. H.
Ashton, vice president of the c. &
NV railway, had agreed to transport
the signs free.
Story county's Profile.
Representative of each county on
the route including Secretary Rollins,
of Denison each made a few remarks,
and ]. H. Ames, an engineer represent
ing the state highway commission, ex-
hibited a profile Of permanent grade
, for the transcontinental route across
Story county which the commission
had prepared free of charge showing
the cuts and fills necessary to make
a perfect highway. He said that the
state engineers would do similar work
for any county for travelling expenses
/ only.
Resolutions Adopted.
The following resolutions were then
adopted unanimously
1.-The Transcontinental Route Asso-
citation recommends that strong ma
tional association be perfected to pro-
mote federal aid for an ocean to-ocean
highway. which shall Yaverse the
transcontinental route. This associa-
ton extends thanks to THOSE who have
so kindly offered free assistance in
signs, markers, entertainment and per-
sonal time spent by our officials ano
especially to the press Of Iowa. which
so willingly advertises free of charge
the interests of our route. We ac-
knowledge the cooperation of the
farmers and township officers in the
maintenance OF a good road on oul
route.
1.-THE. Transcontinental Route Assoc
citation urges upon the legislature OF
this state the necessity Of enactins
such laws as other states have for the
permanent Improvement Of our roads
We specifically recommend state ale
from the motor vehicle license tax, and
special levies, a state highway com
mission to administer it, county anc
state bonds so as to distribute the frs
cost of 4 permanent improvement over
the period Of time in which 1t is to bs
used division Of the cost between
state, county and property benefited
and the special assessment distric
whereby communities can build road!
for themselves. Motor vehicles lie
ensed in Iowa now transport a quarter
million Of our people and will shortl,
be conveying half a million or one.
fifth Of our population and a tax 81
high as the present tax should be in.
vested in permanent hard surfaced
roads.