Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-07-13
IOWA ROADS REPORT
Large Sum Is Expended on the
Highways and Bridges.
TOTAL IS OVER $4,000, 900
Few States Expend More On Roads
and Bridges Than Is Paid Out
Each Year In lowa--Gradina
Cost ls Reduced.

1t appear that in 1915 Iowa spent a
total of $13,525,617 on her roads and
bridges. OF this amount, $6.629, 252
went for bridges and culverts, and
GIG per cent OF this bridge money,
which would be $4.0S3,619. was used
for what may be classed as permanent
structures, that Is, concrete and steel
bridges and culverts.
or the money which went for roads.
S3.396,365 went for country roads and
s3,500,000 went for township roads
There are 1857 miles OF county roads
in the state. and $500 miles of town
ship roads. The average expenditure
per mile on county roads was there
fore $191, and on township roads $40.
II we include bridges also, the aver
age expenditure per mile on county
roads was $257 and on township roads
s106. -
During the year 1927 miles of road
were brought to permanent grade, at
an average cost per mile Of 1885
There were 1858 miles OF road
brought to temporary grade at an av.
erage cost per mile Of 1882. There
were 2,35S.S miles Of road constructed
to natural grade, that is, graded up
without cutting or filing worth men
tioning, at cost of 1852 per mile. A
total of 15,400 miles of road were
dragged an average OF twenty-nine
times, at a cost per mile OF 71.3 cents
for each round trip. Because Of the un-
usual rainfall in 1915, the cost OF
dragging was considerably more than
in normal year.
That Iowa is getting very much
more for the money spent in road
work now than she was getting few
years ago, Is shown by the reduction
in the cost Of grading and bridge
work. Under the provisions Of the
present law, grading must be adver
tised, and the cost Of grading in 1915
was from Is to 20 cents per cubic
yard. Under the old system the cost
OF grading ran from rs to so cents
per cubic yard, and this at a time
when tabor was considerably cheaper
than It rs now.
In the matter OF bridge work. few
years ago the bridge building in Iowa
was parceled out among a few con.
tractors, who got together and agreed
that one should have this part Of the
state, and another that.
There are very few states in the
union which spend as much as Iowa
spends on roads and bridges. The
farmer, who pays such large per-
centage Of this thirteen and a halt
million dollars Of road money, should
OF all men. insist that 1t be spent un.
der competent supervision. And he
should make 1t his business to see
that the supervision is competent.
Voters Law Applies To Soldiers.
Harry e. Sampson, assistant attor.
pey general reports that the absent
voters law applies to the Iowa sol.
diers whether they are on the border
or in Mexico at election time.
II the Iowa troops are in the south
land next fall they will have the priv.
ilege of writing to the county auditor
of the county In which they reside
asking for ballot. That officer will
send an absent voters ballot to the
soldier The ballots when properly
filed out, placed in sealed envelope
and accompanied by an affidavit, will
be sent back to the auditor and will
be placed in the ballot boxes on cleo
ton day.
Camp Equipment Arrives.
The second shipment OF clothing
for soldiers Of the Iowa national
guard has arrived at Camp Dodge.
This completed the equipment Of the
Iowa guard and they are now In read.
mess for service anywhere. The ship
ment included clothing and shoes of
which there was a shortage at the
camp.
Recruiting OF the First cavalry.
which is still short of the minimum
peace strength due to the refusal OF
the troop from West Branch to take
the federal oath, is proceeding slow
ly, according to Major r. p. Howell,
commanding the cavalry.
New Insurance Ruling.
By ruling of the Iowa Supreme
court In the case of Murphy VS.. Con-
tinental Insurance company, appel
liant, the term farm utensils" used
In farm insurance policies is broader
than the term garden tools" and in
cludes any instrumentalities within
the meaning of the word utensils"
used on farm. including stock
scales and windmills. This is OF great
interest to farm and tornado insur-
ance companies which have refused
to insure windmills.
Food inspectors Busy.
Twelve inspectors from the state
dairy and food commission have been
detailed to watch with eagle eyes for
overheated eggs in all parts Of the
state.
"At this season OF the year eggs
start to incubate quickly on account
Of the heat" says w. L. Barney, COM
missioner. Our inspectors also have
to watch closely for Missouri eggs,
as the inspection in that state is not
so rigid"
Special effort is being made to pre-
vent the sale Of impure products.
Many Guard Guns Worthless.
Major 8. w. Brookhart, chief IN
spector Of small arms practice OF the
Iowa brigade now at Camp Dodge,
declares that many of the rifles which