Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-12-07
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Dec. a year and a
half of work by the present highway
commission and IT'S results form the
topic of the report just completed and
given the governor.
Iowa IS the first state in the middle
west 10 esta blish a statewide system
of main roads. Adherence 20 this plan,
saws the commission. for five years
Will give Iowa a network OF highways
reaching every prominent point that
will be unsurpassed in utility TO the
public.
The next step. or one Of the neces-
sary things, is legislation that will
make possible the formation of road
districts. and these districts be given
the authority to contract for pernia-
nent roads, There is growing de-
mand for some way to build permanent
roads. Provision should be made so
that where PERMANENT roads are
wanted they can be had The commits
sion urges that the cost be divided into
three parts-that for the state, for the
ana LOT lie IGtIu III LIE uiSli III.
Expenditures Enormous.
This year there has been work done
on the county road system to the ex-
tent OF about 100000.
On the township roads there has
been expended 100000.
On bridges and vulyerts the expendi-
ture has been between sS,600,O00 and
$4,000, 900.
When Anal figures are computed 1t
will be shown that there has been an
actual saving, taking into account
quality OF work. ON the bridge business,
far in excess Of the entire cost of the
highway commission in all OF It's ac-
tivies. On this item alone the COM
mission has justified itself.
The big feature OF the first year and
half Of work Of the commission is
that there Is such large proportion OF
the work that is permanent, that will
never have to be done over again. but
which has been necessary before the
road system Of the state can finally be
on a permanent basis. This includes
the surveying. locating and mapping Of
the roads. the grading of the highways.
the construction of permanent bridges,
the replacing Of weak structures with
good ones making the crossings safe
etc. A large part Of this expense will
not have to be repeated
Report Complete.
The report made to Governor Clarke
is voiumlnous and wonderfully com
plete as to every detail of the vast
work done. The present commission
went into Office April 9, 1913 Prior
to that time the state highway COM
ogno t> Lo1 u
onstrated the need of something be-
Ing done as to bridges and culver.s. It
had found the state was divided into
parts by the supply houses and there
was no competition for work. There
were no standards OF value nor general
knowledge among road officials and
30 per cent of the money was going
into corrugated boiler pipe and other
FORMS Of culverts and into machinery
and not much on the roadway Not
until supervisors In some counties were
forced out Of office did the public
awaken to the need OF something defin-
lite. The commission reorganized into
four departments-the office work, de-
signing, field work and educational
work. The activities OF each OF these
departments is related In detail. Con-
49, N''NNC "Oht Icih Win lilo IclTeHCu-
ment and reform committee, the state
accounting department, the county au-
ditors. the county engineers and the
railroad commission. Conferences were
held with every board of supervisors
First Big Task.
The locating and adoption OF the
county road system was the first big
task. This involved a vast amour,
of investigation and inquiry to cover
the 1900 miles OF the system. There
is yet under protest about 1850 miles
which will necessitate the inspection OF
twice that mileage before the work IS
done. Complete surveys. profiles and
maps have been prepared
From Jan. I to Nov. 30, 1913, there
was submitted to the designing shor
drawings for s1xty-eight steel struc-
lures, for checking and approval. There
was submitted 327 other designs TO,
work aggregating about $3.50. 900. Bridge
designs have been prepared for sixty
one counties for bridges costing $685.
$685. No designs were prepared TO,
thirty eight counties. At a cost Of op-
Grafton Of s7,s5s.20 designs were pre-.
pared for work estimated in value a,
y1.033.9S0.Ss.
The field department investigated
twenty eight complaints. A vasi
amount OF work has been done in the
educational department. Service bull
lctins have been issued Tho people
have been enabled to know what is be-
Ing done and the plans on which the
system Is being handled
Many Problems Faced.
The problems that face the countie
IN the building Of system OF highway
are many. The first requisite is a,
adequate organization. For a loni
period Iowa must depend largely upo1
earth roads, and these need constay,
maintenance. It IL therefore hnportan
that . system Of maintenance be adopt
ed that will be efficient. the comm !.
mon believes IN the patrol system
which has been tried with success II
Clayton and other counties. For an,
hesvy travelled road having earth. grav
u macadam or similar surface moth
ln1 less than continuous maintenanc
win preserve the integrity Of the sur
3 - ~ CONSERVE s..:s......:: :::-.--s=...ee.