The Oskaloosa herald., 1915-07-01
MUST CUT WEEDS NOW
Highway Commission Calls Atten.
tion to Change in Law.

The state highway commission is
calling the attention Of property
owners to the change in the state
law which requires weeds to be cut
between July l and August l.
! he commission says
The Iowa weed law as amended
by the 1hirty-siXth general assembly
places the final limit on weed cut
ting Aug. /, two weeks earlier than
! formerly. Weeds must be cut be-
tween July and Aug. /. Formerly
/ the dates were July Is to Aug 15.
| The change to the earlier dates was
made because it was found that the
seeds of many noxious weeds were
so far matured by Aug. 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
township trustees and the, road Off
,cials are responsible If the land own
er or the occupant neglects his duty.
1.-THE trustee and the road official who
Ineglects or fails to perform his duty
under the weed law may be charged
with misdemeanor and is punishable
Iby a fine not exceeding 500. Where
the land owners or occupants refuse
Ito cut the weeds the law authorizes
the trustees and county authorities TO
cut the weeds and charge the expense
against the property"
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. II
says:
Constant complaints are made OF
the quantities of broken glass, beer
bottles and similar distractions on
the main Travelled roads. The law
chapter 20, acts OF the Thirty NTH
general assembly, makes the placing
or leaving of bottles or broken glass
on the public highways a misdemean
or. The fine ranges from $l.00 tC
$4,000. A second offense can not be
less than $500. Few people are
aware of the fact that the class OF
joy riders who leave a string of bot
ties scattered along behind them car
be prosecuted A few prosecutions
in each county will undoubtedly stor
the parctice. These prosecutions
should come as soon as the users o.
the roads generally learn of the eX
istence of the law"
Want Roads Dragged.
, Regarding failure to drag countr!
+ roads. the highway commission says
There can be no excuse in Iowa
I for Iowa roads being undragged Th'
9 township trustees have drag funC
4 levied for this and no other purpos
J. which is sufficient to pay for the drag
e Iging of all necessary township roads
a The law directs the county board 0
n supervisors to keep the county roat
r. system dragged to a smooth condition
q at all times. The share of the al
). tomobile tax which comes to ever
county will go a long ways tOwar
paying this expense. The autOmObl
lists who pay this tax are entitled t.
\ have the money spent for this wOrI
rather than any other. There ar
times and seasons when it is hard t
get anyone to do the work. Thi
{ fact, however, is no excuse for neg
lecting to have it done. The Law
says it shall be done and provides
the money and places the responsi
t bility for doing it. The people of ev
l. cry community are entitled to have
j done. If it is neglected, they hay'
o the law back of them to force tn,
!: roads should be dragged and there i
e no valid excuse for ignoring the Law
L or neglecting the work"