The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-06-29
State Highway Commission 10 Calling
Attention In Bulletin to Charge
I Which Last Legislature
Made In Statute
NO MORE BROKEN GLASS
Commission Has Authority to Prose
cute Joy Riders and Others
Who Throw Bottles
In Roadways

The state highway commission 1B
calling the attention Of property own
ers to the change in the state law
which requires weeds to be cut be-
tween July and Aug. 1.
The commission says:
1.-THE Iowa weed law as amended
by the thirty-sixth general assembly
places the final limit on weed cut
ting August /, two weeks earlier than
formerly. Weeds must be cut be-
tween July and August 1. Formerly
the dates were July 15 to August Is.
The change to the earlier dates was
made because 1t was found that the
seeds OF many noxious weeds We're
so far matured by August Is that cut
ting on that date was Of little or no
value in preventing the spread of the
weeds.
The land owner or the occupant
of the land is responsible for the de-
struction of all weeds on his land or
on the highways adjoining. The town
ship trustees and the road officials
are responsible II the land owner or
the occupant neglects his duty. The
trustee and the road official who ne
glets or fails to perform his duty un-
der the weed law may be charged with
misdemeanor and is punishable by a
fine not exceeding 500. Where the
land owners or occupants refuse to
cut the weeds. the law authorizes the
trustees and county authorities to cut
the weeds and charge the expense
against the property"
After Joy Riders.
That Joy riders who throw bottles
on the public highway, may be and
should be prosecuted, Is stated by the
commission in it's recent bulletin. It
says:
Constant complaints are made of
tho quantities Of broken glass, beer
bottles and similar distractions on
the main travelled roads. The law,
chapter 21O, acts Of the Thirty-flfth
general assembly makes the placing
or leaving of bottles or broken glass
on the public highways misdamean.
or The fine ranges from $1.00 to
$4,000. A second offense cannot be
less than $500. Few people are aware
Of the fact that the class of Joy riders
who leave string of bottles scatter
ed along behind them can be prose-
cuted. A few prosecutions In each
county will undoubtedly stop the prac-
tice. These prosecutions should come
as soon as the users OF the roads gen.
orally learn Of the existence OF the
law.
Want Roads Dragged.
Regarding failure to drag country
roads, the highway commission says:
There can be no excuse in Iowa
for Iowa roads being undragged The
township trustees have a drag fund
levied for this and no other purpose
which Is sufficient to pay for the
dragging of all necessary township
roads. The law directs the county
board Of supervisors to keep the
road system dragged to
smooth condition at all times. The
share OF the automobile tax which
comes to every county will go long
ways toward paying this expense.
The automobiles who pay this tax
are entitled to have the money spent
for this work rather than any
other. There are times and sea-
sons when it is hard to get anyone to
do the work. This fact, however, IS
no excuse for neglecting to have It
done. The law says it shall be done
and provides the money and places
the responsibility for doing It.. The
people Of every community are en-
titled to have it done. II It is neglect
ed they have the law back Of them
to force the proper officials to get It
done. The roads should be dragged
and there is no valid excuse for ignor-
ing the law or neglecting the roads,