Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-08-12
EASE WITH WHICH LOADS ARE
HAULED OVER IMPROVED
ROADS TO BE SHOWN.
FEDERAL PUBLIC ROADS
OFFICIAL IN CHARGE
Tests 70 Be Made on Improved High
way in Boone and Story Counties,
Which Government Aided in Build.
ins-state Highway Commission to
Open Quarters at State Fair.


Ames, Aug. 12.-Traction tests. to
determine how much easier it is to
haul loads over Iowa roads after they
are properly improved, ara soon to be
made on the United States post road
partially built last fall across Story
and Boone counties. This road is a
portion of the Lincoln Highway. 1t
was built under the supervision of
United States engineers with the $780,
900 provided for the work, $4,000 by
Boone county, $4,000 by Story and
$4,000 federal government.
The coming test will be made by
Elmer Johnson, Of the United States
office of public roads, with a specially
constructed dynomometer ca, or truck
fitted with self registering devices. The
truck has eight sets Of wheels with
varying tire widths, ranging from one
and f1ve-eighths to six inches. Trips
will be made over the entire stretch OF
fifty miles with each set Of tires. each
set Of tires carrying the same constant
load of two and one-half tons. The
record Of the pull exertsd by the team
is made complete for every inch of
the fifty miles for each set Of tires.
Exact record Of the grade, the kind of
road surface. whether bla tx dirt. sand,
clay, sand and clay, or gravel is kept.
These records compared With the rec
ortls made over the same read before
it was put to grade and improved will
give interesting data. The same will
I, - no
corded with the varying widths of
tires.
Mr.. Johnson has just completed a
test over the old road where the Du-
buque $50, 900 post road is to be built
this fall and next spring. This road is
of various kinds of road surfaces and
has quite a number of hard grades. 1t
requires nearly month 20 complete
the test there. 1t is planned to have
the test on the Ames road start in
about two months.
Highway Body to Have Tent at Fair.
The state highway commission will
have tent and good roads exhibit at
the state fair grounds. The exhibit
will be composed of photographs, en-
iarged views and possibly lantern
slides and moving picture views OF
road building. There will be exhibits
of the standard plan adopted for Iowa
roads and bridges and cu!ve1ts. Charts
will illustrate as far as possible the
work done by the commission and will
show the division Of work between the
state, county and township. The tent
will form the headquarters for good
road workers and builders from every
part Of the state. There will be rest
room where the weary sight seers can
sit down and rest. Members Of the
commission and the state highway en-
gineer will probably be III attendance
a good part Of the time for conferences
with road workers.
Interest on Highway Money.
A clipping going the rounds OF the
state papers makes the declaration
that the highway commission draws it's
share Of the automobile tax money just
as fast as 1t comes due, that it de-
posts the money in the banks at Ames,
that the Ames banks do not pay in
terest but get the use of the money
free Of charge and intimates that the
expense Of a special treasurer for the
commission should be cut out.
The unfortunate thing about this
item being given wide publicity is that
every statement and intimation in it is
wrong The commissions share Of the
automobile tax money is payable quar-
terly Jan. 1, April 1, July 1. and Oct. 1.
These remittances are not sent when
due. They are sent only on request
Of the Iowa State College treasurer
who acts as treasurer for the commits
sion without compensation from the
commission. The banks at Ames pay
Q per cent on the daily cash balances
just the same as the Des- NJ ines banks
do on the state money in the hands Of
the state treasurer. The commission
plans to keep only reasonable work.
ing balance on hand in Ames, making
request thru the college treasurer from
time to time only for such sums as
will enable the commission to meet it's
bills when due.