The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-06-28
Suggestion is Made That Weeds and
High Grass be Cut Down Either
by the Owner or by
the City.
sPo1Ls. LOOKS OF BLOCK
IT Other Lawns Are Well Kept, a
Ragged Appearing Grass Plot
Will Make Bad impress
sion on Visitors.

1He cutting OF weeds and high grass
from vacant property either by prop
erty owners or by the city has been
suggested by several people who are
interested in having their city made
as neat an appearance as possible.
Property owners who live in their own
homes are keeping the grass cut down
for the most part, but right next door
to some of these property owners is
vacant property with the lawn all
gone to weeds and tall grass. This
makes a very ragged appearance to
street and spoils the efforts of the
people who are trying to keep their
property in good shape
Notices may be served on property
owners by the city to cue down the
tall grass and weeds and if the work
is not done by the property owners it
can be done by the city. Nothing de.
tracts from the looks of a street
especially in the residence districts,
as line of ragged, unkempt lawns.
With thousands of visitors in Keokuk
all during the summer months, it is
up to the owners to make some at
tempt to keep their yards in condi-
ton.
According to bulletin received
here 1t is the duty under Iowa law
of each owner, occupant, person, COM
pany or corporation in control of any
lands within the state, whether the
same shall be improved or unim-
proved lands, town or city lots, lands
used for railway right OF way or
depot grounds, lands in which the
public has an easement for road, used
for any purpose whatsoever, to de-
stroy noxious weeds. It must be done
at such times and in such manner as
shall prevnt the weeds from bloom
ing or coming to maturity. All lands
must be kept free of weeds that shall
render the streets or highways adjoin-
ing the same unsafe for public travel
or shall interfere in any way with
the proper construction or repair Of
the STREETS or highways, and the own
ers of land must cut near the sur
face all weeds adjoining such prop
erty.
To Be Enforced.
This law is to be enforced in Iowa
this year. Those vested with the con-
troll of the roads of the country are
especially anxious that residents clear
the roads in front of their respective
places. In many localities this clear
ing is perfectly done so that there is
much stimulus to the spirit of keep
ing highway in the most presentable
condition possible.
The state authorities issue warn
ing against the cutting or pulling up
of weeds and then throwing them in
the center of the highway This is
not desirable, as it makes it expen-
sive to keep roads in goud condition
under practice of this character. 1t
interferes with grading and spoils the
appearance of a highway Every bit
of vegetation, dead or growing, be-
tween the bitches of the road is
damaging to it's appearance and makes
additional expense in the upkeep. If
persons caring for the road in front
of their premises as the law specifies
will bear this in mind they will not
only aid materially in the road work,
but they will be saving the country a
large amount of expense In repair
work.
The Iowa law provides that where
the weeds are not cut the country
shall order them removed, and the
expense thereof shall be assessed
against the property and collected by
the country treasurer. Township
officers are required to post copies of
the weed law in the township during
the early part of May of each year
and this is supposed to afford Motif
cation to the landowners of the re-
quirements Of the law.