Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-08-26
To maintain ROADS.
Iowa Spends Large Sum for
Keeping Up Highways.
BRIDGES COST $4,000, 10000
Auditor Of States Report Just Pub
Iished Shows Astounding Facts
In Connection With Cost Of
Highway Maintenance.

Des Moines.-Iowa is spending this
year $6,21S,S23.10 on maintenance OF
the country roads in addition to 3d.
s51,29S.20 for bridges, according to
the published report of F. s. Shaw,
auditor of state.
The auditor thought that the public
should know where the taxes go.
Therefore, this year for the first time,
table was prepared showing the to-
tails of the tax lists Of each county.
ly contained in the annual reports,
but 1t was scattered about so that
but few took the trouble to figure out
just how much the state was paying
for any one thing.
In bringing all of the figures to-
gether, w. H. Williams, revenue clerk
OF the auditors office, found that the
state is paying an enormous sum for
the development OF the highways. In
direct taxes the people this year are
paying $5.01S.S23.10 for roads. In ad-
dition, the state automobile tax, which
is divided among the counties,
amounts to about $1,200,O00, making
total OF over 100000 available Tor
roads.
There are three road funds, the
county, township and road dragging
fund. The township road fund hits
the property owner the hardest in
taxes.
The taxes collectable in 1915 for the
township road fund total $2,52s, 1857.
Taxes collectable this year for the
county road fund total 1854, 3s5.43.
The road drag fund totals Ss96,29
10.
In 1914 the state paid larger sum
for roads than in 1915. Last year the
road taxes amounted to $685., 166.27,
not including any Of the state auto
mobile tax. The sums were divided
as follows: County roads, s1,801, 496.-
36; township roads, s2,S12,479.41; road
dragging, s653,190.5O.
In 1918 the state raised S3,361,47
for roads.
In 1911 the road taxes totaled ST.
723,S6S.49.
The auditor of states office empha.
sized these figures in order that the
people of the state should know the
sums which are being expended each
year on roads. 1t was noticeable that
between 1911 and 1918 there was an
increase of over half million dollars
in direct taxes paid for roads. Between
1913 and 1915 there was an increase
Of nearly 100000 in direct taxes,
and at the same time the automobile
tax. which is expended also for roads,
has been increasing several hundred
thousand dollars each year, so that in
1915 it will amount to about 1900 900.
Road boosters who have examined
the report declare the state has not
been getting the roads which the
taxes have paid for. Therefore they
are eager to formulate plan by
which permanent roads may be built.
They say that as soon as the taxpay.
ers OF each county realize the amount
Of money collected in taxes in that
county for roads they will demand
that the money be spent for perman-
ent roads.
The state Is paying an enormous
sum also for bridges. This year the
counties will raise 1851, 29S.20 for
bridges. Last year the fund was 49,
T5O,165.50 and the year previous s2,-
932 1882.
II the state keeps up the pace set
IN 1915 In paying in direct and indi.
rect taxes, the sum Of $6,21S,S32.10 for
roads in ten years 1t will have paid
in total OF $62,1SS,320.
The road and bridge and automobile
taxes in 1915 total s10,o7O,130. At
this same rate, in ten years the state
will have paid In taxes for roads and
bridges the sum Of $l00,7O1. 300.
Not Under Compensation Act.
Judge p. G. Norris of the superior
court at Grinnell rendered an later
esting and important decision on
demurrer in the case OF Slycord va.
Horn, involving the Interpretation al
certain sections Of the workmer's
compensation act.
Horn owned a corn shredder and
employed Slycord to assist in its
operation. Slycord got his hand in
the machine and received injuries
necessitating the amputation of his
hand. He brought suit under the
workmen's compensation act to pre-
vent Horn pleading the common law
defenses.
A demurrer was fled raising an
issue as to whether or not one en-
gagged in the operation OF corn
shredder was an agricultural laborer.
Judge Norris held that he was and
therefore did not come within the
provisions of the compensation act.
No Foot and Mouth Disease.
Dr. ]. /. Gibson. state veterinarian,
has returned after an inspection of
the farms in the eastern part OF the
state where the foot and mouth dis
ease existed. He says that practical
ly all OF the farms have been releas-
ed from quarantine. and that there
is not the slightest sign of the disease
remaining In the district. The farm
ers of that part OF the state who
fought the quarantine bitterly are said
to have forgotten their troubles and
are friendly with the state department
again.
Less Money for !. N. q.
The Iowa national guard will get Q
smaller appropriation than last year
from the federal treasury. Secretary
Garrison had made the apportion-