Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-05-14

Still others insisted upon plan by
which paved highways could be
f1nancied in the country on the same
plan by which city streets are paved
Many of the most earnest good roads
advocates were strong for generous
appropriations for grading and drag
ging dirt roads, but unalterably OPP
posed to expensive concrete or bricK
roadways. Some authorities were Tor
putting all the road work under the
Jurisdiction of state commission,
while others were bitterly opposed to
yielding an ounce Of the power held
by the county supervisors. All these
ideas were embodied in bills.
The legislature took all the ideas
offered and sifted them in committee
hoppers. Finally, out Of the chaos
was evolved an orderly road law de-
signed to furnish Iowa with the foun-
dation for creditable system Of good
roads. The law finally adopted did
not attempt to say the last word IN
road legislation. It did provide For
the development OF a system Of i'm
proved county highways under the
immediate direction Of county engi-
neers These county highways were
to blend into a system Of state high
ways. and the work Of all the coun-
ties was to be supervised by state
highway commission. Ample means
were provided for the financing OF
road improvements during the early
stages Of the operation OF the law.
New standards were provided for the
construction of culverts and bridges.
A more progressive method Of making
and financing township TOAD I'M
provements was provided.
Did the Thirty-fifth general assem-
bly, get any votes Of thanks for its
hard work in the interest OF good
roads? Newspaper columns were
numbered with nothing of the sort.
On the contrary. column after column
was devoted to criticism OF the legis-
lature for overlooking a great oppor-
tunity in not passing road law that
amounted to something. Because the
most advanced ideas of the most pro-
gressive good roads specialists were
not adopted in Iowa's first serious ef-
fort for better road conditions, the
legislature was compared to the
mountain that labored and brought
forth a gnat. Iowa was said to have
been Inundated and put far to the
rear in the good roads procession.
No heated political campaign ever
brought forth a more gorgeous line Of
criticism than was lavished upon the
leaders OF both houses OF the late leg
:slature for having failed to make
good on the paramount issue Of good
roads.
This little excursion into recent his
tory is made. not to revive unpleasant
recollections, but rather to furnish a
suitable background for the latest
news regarding the Iowa road law.
1t is to the effect that l.. W. Page,
director Of the United States road IN
qulry bureau in Washington, has as
signed a number of field experts to
go to Iowa and study the workings
Of the new road law during It's first
year Of operation. The assignment
has been made by the chief of the
bureau. with the understanding that
the Iowa road law is 10 furnish a
model for the adoption of other states.
Nor Is the director Of the federal in
quiry bureau alone in this opinion.
A convention OF road officials from
seven states held in ST. Paul recently
reached ready agreement that the
Iowa road law was better adapted to
the needs OF the average western
state than that OF any other state.
Engineering journals have been free
in their compliments for Iowa's appli-
cation Of sound good roads principles.
There has been some talk Of radi-
cal revision Of the present road law
at the hands Of the next general as
sembly. Instead, II may be well FOR
the next assembly to run the present
law up to the top Of the state house
flag pole and make all its critics join
in a chautauQua salute.