Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-12-14
MILLIONS FOR ROADS
Hardin County Will Spend - ,3e5,s4o on
It's County Roads and Bridges During
the Next Thirty Ysars-Not Getting
Ample Returns For Investment.

EIdora, Dec. lift you DO not
change your present rate of taxation
for county roads and bridges and il
our laws would permit you to bond
those taxes you could replace every
temporary bridge in Hardin county and
pave every mile of your county road
system. pay off the debt with interest
and maintenance and save 100000 per
annum out of your present tax rates,
said D. W. Norris, of Marshalltown,
before the Mems Forum at the Metho-
dist church Monday evening.
Gravel For Most Roads.
Mr. Norris explained, however, that
for many years to come gravel con-
struction would prove satisfactory in
an agricultural county like Hardin.
where there were no very large cities.
He mentioned the highest type of con-
struction merely to emprasize the enor-
nous waste of the present system OF
han -to-mouth construction in Iowa.
AT your present rate Of taxation
YOU will blow S4,3s5,s40 for county
roads and bridges in this county during
the next thirty years and what are
you going to get for your money!"
asked the speaker. what have you
for the millions spent during the past
thirty years. Do you know that
! 50, 100000 out OF the four and a half
millions which you are going to spend
anyway would pave every mile OF your
county roads and replace every
temporary bridge with masonry? The
other two and a half millions would be
available for interest and maintenance.
You would get the roads sooner and
enjoy them longer"
Mr. Norris told OF the hard surfaced
roads being built all over the United
States except in Iowa, Of gravel
macadam and pavement. He said that
Iowa spent more money every year
upon its roads and bridges than any
Of the states except two, whereas
twenty-six states had more miles OF
roads improved than did Iowa. That
half the states in the union were get
ting more miles of improved roads at
less expenditure per annun because Al
per cent Of all the counties in all the
states we're bonding their road reve-
nues.
He said that assessed values Of
property in Hardin county had In
creased two and half times during the
past thirty years and estimated that
they would double in the next thirty
years SO that present county road and
bridge levies would average so per
cent larger returns in revenue during
the period. He predicted that the
number of autos licensed in the county
! would increase four or five times but
would at least average double, hence
the probab revenue from present
rates Of taxation for county roads and
bridges would be s148,52s per annum
in this county. He said that 100000
| would completely bridge the county
with Masonry at an annual fixed charge
of $4,000 for principal. interest and
maintenance on thirty-year bond
plan and that roads could be paved for
$500 per mile per annum or 1852 per
annum for gravel which would cost
ss7, 900 per annum to pave 174 miles OF
the county road system or $4,000 per
annum less than the probable revenues
| from the present rate Of taxation. To
gravel would cost much less.
| Mr. Norris thought that the land
nearest to the roads improved should
pay something extra for Its special
benefit saying that in Minnesota Is per
cent OF the cost was assessed to the
farms nearby. In that event county
money would build more roads.
| After the address an hour was spent
asking questions.