Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-12-07
IOWA'S ADVANCE
IN ROAD BUILDING
Progress Made During Year and Half New
Highway Law Has Been in Operation.

Nothing short of continuous upkeep
viii answer the demands of the travel
ing public.
The value of convict labor in making
roads has been amply demonstrated by
the work which has been done. The eX-
perience with federal aid and encour-
agement is also related in detail. Pro-
gress has been made in railway cross
ing Improvement.
in Face of Hostility.
When the com mission was reorgan-
ICED it faced hostility at every turn.
When the season of 1914 opened the
situation was changed because of u
better understanding OF the work of the
commission and the sweeping away of
the errors that had been attached to
the system County after county COM
menced, for the first time, construction
work on a broad scale
Thru the force of the example set
by the counties" says the commission.
and thru the demands of an aroused
public sentiment ii was possible to
make a beginning in even the most
backward counties. For example this
is true in Davis county. Last year
practically no adequate results were
secured. This year u number OF very
dangerous bridges and culverts have
been repaired or replaced by permanent
structures. brush ana weeds have been
cleared from the roadsides and some
reasonably good grading work has been
done
The highway legislation of the Thir-
ty-fifth general assem- bly,. says the re-
port, was planned TO form the founda
ton on which would be builded sane.
practical structure OF highway admin
istration for Iowa. II was not expected
a that time that a perfect measure
would be written in its every detail, but
the two years use has proven it to be
in many respects a model piece OF leg
islation It's strongly written. vital
principles are not obscured by minor
details and indefinite language and in
the past two years not a single con-
troversy under its provisions has
reached the courts.
Engineers Recommendations.
The commission secured from county
engineers their recommendations as TO
changes needed for better administra
ton. These covered about forty sug-
gestions, mostly on minor matters
the resolutions OF necessity, the time
OF making reports, condemning land
for roads and bridges. filing at bridges
and culverts. the township road work.
the extension OF county roads inside
municipal corporations. road dragging.
dragging contests, better enforcement
of road dragging, public safety, drain
age and how to get permanent road
work.
The commission especially urges
| amendment Of the law so that road
| districts may be forced to contract for
and construct permanent roads: also
| that the county road systems be ex-
tended within city lines and that a
| road levy In the cities be made for
these roads: that county and township
officers be given more power over re-
moval Of brush and weeds from roads,
TO raise the limit from 5000 TO $1,000
whore resolutions OF necessity are re-
quired for bridges that drainage dis
tricts may be created for roads; that
all poll tax be payable in cash: that
some way be found for doing perman-
ent work on the township roads; and
that provision be made for altering
the county road system under certain
Circugn stances