Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1916-05-19

sible in repairing our roads. This half
way fixing the roads costs the county
almost twice as much money, since
twice men had to be hired to repair
the road and i road is once repaired
properly it is not necessary to repair it
again for some time. Then the traffic
in that district is delayed and some
times autos are stalled in the poorly
fixed places So it is in every way
more beneficial to both the county and
the community to have the roads re-
paired well once than poorly twice.
All of the shrubs and small trees
that are along the roadside should be
! removed These are obstacles on the
roads in both winter and summer time.
| In winter much snow is drifted in
place where shrubs are to be found.
The snow piled up retards traffic and
in the spring it takes the sun long
time to melt off the snow. Thus the
road around these shrubs is kept wet
for long time The sun is also pre-
vented from shining directly On the
road'by this shrubbery. The same is
true in the simmer, especially in the
wet seasons the sun is again prevented
from drying up these wet places quick
er than it otherwise could dry up, pro-
viding that there were no obstacles.
Upon all the roads that are located
| in low swampy places much gravel
would be brought so as to elevate it
and have the water run off into the
bitches after a rain or thaw. This
would improve the roads that are To-
Gated in the low swampy places which
are very often obstacles that hinder
traffic in the wet seasons. The water
evaporates quicker from gravel than
from black soil which is found on roads
in the low swampy districts.
After all the roads would be graded
and gravel distributed in the low places,
mudholes, culverts and bridges made
and all the dirt leveled on the roads l
would have the roads oiled. Before OIL
ing them, heavy roller would be pass
ed over the roads so that a smooth sur
face would be formed. The oil would
also tend to make tie water run off in
to the bitches and make the roads dry
soon after rain. These bitches made
before grading the roads would lead
the water to some stream or river.
In repairing road l would have only
one or two miles repaired at time.
The number of men employed would be
large SO that the road could be repaired
in the shortest time possible. During
the time while such repair is being
done no heavy traffic shouldbe allowed.
The farmers residing along the road
side would be obliged to do their part
to keep the roads in good shape. They
would have to SOW some grass seed,
perhaps alfalfa along the roads. This
they would have to cut at least twice a
year in order to keep the roadside look
ing neat. This would not only add
beauty to the road, but be Of benefit to
the farmers themselves. The benefit
to the farmers can be shown in two
ways. First, they would receive the
hay that they make along the roadside.
Second, weeds that grow along road
sides very often spread into the farm
ers fields, if the weeds are neglected
on the roads. Then the farmers re-
move the pests from their fields with
much difficulty.
have noticed that macadamized
roads are not as popular as they have
been. They have been advocated by
people but they are not being made.
All of the pike roads are being re-
paired with gravel for two reasons.
The first is that the cost of repairing
is less and the second is that graveled
roads are equal to macadamized roads,
BY treating the roads in the above
way think that they would be fit for
travel all the year round. The roads
would be improved as best as they can
be improved in this community. l
would have the main roads treated
first and, if money would be available,
the other roads in turn would be re-
paired Otherwise the other roads
would have to wait for some time, and
when the county would have enough
money to repair them in this way they
would be repaired. Then the roads
would be in first class condition and fit
for any travel.
How l Would Improve Our Country