The Oskaloosa herald., 1916-06-01
UP At THE PRIMARIES
Road Question Figures In the Elec-
tion Next Monday.

1t Is too bad the road question mas
been dragged into politics and that
candidates for nomination for the
legislature are going to be elected or
defeated at the primaries by reason OF
their stand on the road question" says
the secretary Of the Greater Iowa AS
sociation in a communication to this
newspaper.
But, iuaSmuch as It has been drawn
into politics it is due the voters OF
every county and township in the
state to know exactly what is proposed
by each side to the, controversy. In
asmuch as the fight centers largely
around the Highway commission we
would appreciate you publishing the
following facts: -, ~,
Prior to 1913, when the State High
way commission was established by
Legislative action, there was no system
of highway or bridge construction,
Each county was operating on a hit
and-miss method, and too often con-
tracts were given for other considera-
lions than the lowest bid.
I'm most of the counties II is impos-
sible to go back OF 1913 and find re-
corded in the books Of the county any
definite detail information concerning
the expenditures of road or bridge
funds The records will show John
Smith, and Bill Jones, and other con-
tractors, or individuals, were paid GER
tain amounts of money for road work,
dragging or bridge repairs etc. 1t
is impossible to ascertain just where
the work was done, or when 1t was
done, or Of what it was composed. I'm
der the present law each county is re-
quired to keep an exact record Of ev-
cry expenditure and detail material
prices. This, in itself, is a safeguard
that in a measure would warrant a
continuation Of the present highway
control system.
What Sioux County Did.
"As a result Of using the highway
commissions specifications and super
vision of bids and construction work,
many counties have saved great
amount of money. For instance, in
Sioux county in 1918, under the old
slipshod method of letting contracts,
concrete bridges and culverts were
built averaging in cost $16.48 per cubic
yard Of concrete. Under the Highway
commission supervision, in 1915, Sioux
county paid an average of $11.27 per
cubic yard Of concrete, and materials
were little bit higher at that. -.
I'm 1911 Scott county did considera-
BILE concrete work at an average cost
Of approximately 500 per cubic yard of
concrete. Under the Highway commas
sion supervision last, year, Scott coun-
ty paid an average of $40, per cubic
yard of concrete. sol. ..,e,se,s- .rs.,,
"In one letting in Sioux county, in
1915, the. supervisors saved the neat
little sum of 21,95146. The total ex-
penses of the Highway commissions
supervision, including plans, and in
spection, and everything else, was
$1,662; therefore, in that one letting
Sioux county saved $20,289 46,-over
and above the 'contiscatory' expenses
Of the commission.
And better work was done, too.
Scott COunty'S Experience.
Scott county built a retaining Will
"a feet long in 1911 along the Blue
Grass road at 58c per cubic foot for
concrete. In the spring of 1915 the
retaining wall fell down. Under High
way commission supervision, and spe-
cifications, and inspection Scott county
would have saved more than $1,000
on that little job,-and the wall would
be there today,-instead Of being in
the ditch.
"These are matters the voters should
investigate before they cast their vote
at the primary election. They should
investigate more thoroughly. between
the primary elections and the fall cleo
lions.
EVERY farmer who studies the ques-
ton for himself and gets at the real
facts, will support the Highway COM
mission plan of road and bridge con-