Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-11-24
ELVOlS BOND ISSUE
FOR BETTER ROADS
RECORD IN FAVOR OF NEW
REVENUE PLAN.
FINANCE ROAD BUILDING
LIKE COURT HOUSES
Commission Reaches Conclusion That
Present Road and Bridge Taxes Are
Sufficient in Main to Build Hard
Surfaced Highways Under Econom-
icaI Construction-Wou Pay on In
staIn,ent Plan.

Des Moines, Nov. 24.-The better
roads commission appointed by Gov
ernor Clarke to gather information as
to road improvement and report plan
FOR Iowa went on record at its meet
ing in this city Tuesday in favor of
anticipating road and bridge revenues
by the issue of county bonds the same
as is done for the building OF court
houses. After considering a report of
its subcommittee it was the belief Of
the commission that present road and
bridge taxes are sufficient in the main
to build hard surfaced roads if made
available for the most economical con-
struction. Paying for roads on the in
stallment plan rather than building
them by installments seemed to be the
method used in all states that have
surfaced their roads. AS a result of
it's meeting the commission gave out
the Following statement:
The better roads commission spent
the entire day discussing reports from
its special committee upon the prob
lem Of anticipating road and bridge
revenues in townships and counties
for the most economical construction.
It appeared that, if the state was not
to utilize its superior credit by loaning
1T to the localities which should vote
for improved roads, the lowest rates OF
interest could be obtained by Issuing
the direct obligations Of the counties.
1T was agreed that whether or not
special districts or townships or the
counties at large should undertake road
construction, all revenues should be
anticipated by the direct obligations
Of the counties, and the counties re-
paid by such distributions Of taxes as
the law may provide.
EFT is the intention Of the COM
mission to gather information as to
the most equitable distribution of taxes
as betw the state, county, owner
ship and private property, and II pos
sible. recommend plan for the con-
sheraton Of tho next legislature"
State Bonds Eventually.
While the commission had gone on
record at It's previous meeting in favor
of the people Of each locality deciding
for themselves what kind Of roads they
would build the commission will con-
slider at it's future meetings the posi-
bility Of utilizing the states superior
credit in financing road work. The
state Of Iowa could sell state bonds at
31s to 4 per cent while county bonds
must pay from A Y to 5 per cent and
district bonds would have to carry to
per cent interest. If the state could
obtain money at the low rate and loan
it to the counties the saving in the in
terest charge would pay off the debt
within the life of the higher types OF
cons truction and the counties would
thus never have TO pay for their roads
other than the interest and up-keep.
The people of Il state would have to
vote the necessary authority and there
is some doubt as to whether the people
of Iowa are ready for this plan altho
thirteen states are now utilizing their
state credit for road work II it could
be accom- plished the commission would
look upon it with favor for 1t would
not require the state to build a road
but would merely save for the locality
enormous sums by reducing the inter
est charge.
Farm Editors Heard.
II. c. Wallace, editor of Wallace's
Farmer, and Mr. Atkinson. editor Of
the Homestead, appeared before the
commission by invitation to express