Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-07-27
FEW COUNTY BOARDS HAVE EN-.
PLoYED PATRoLMEk As RE.
CURED sY LAW.
ACT PASSED sY LAST
ASSEMBLY NOW EFFECTIVE
County Boards Which Have Been No.
tilted Of Failure to Comply With Law,
STATE Men Will 30 Employed First Of
Year-AvailabIs Men Now Needed in
Fields. e
special to Times Republican.

Dr-
new road patrol law went into effect
July I Of this year. road patrolmen. ac-
Oording to all reports. are few and far
between. It was stated on inquiry at
the state highway commission office
yesterday that very few counties thus
far have put them on.
Under the law as passed by the last
general assembly boards Of supervisors
are required to put on these patrol
men. The law reads that boards OF
supervisors shall cause all Of the high
ways in their jurisdiction to be
patroled," etc. An effort was made
when the bill was under discussion in
the senate to make 1t optional with the
boards to appoint these men but this
was defeated.
Where the attention Of supervisors
has been called to the matter it is
claimed that patrolmen will be put on
the first Of the year. Right now all of
the men are needed in the fields most
of the time, 1t is argued, and the old
plan Of caring for the roads is at pres
even claimed that 1t was not the in
IcuSlOu VI LA0 law " SI<1IL u1SIl III uu1
ing the middle Of the year.
How the Law Reads.
The law, which was drawn up by
Senator Foster, Of Guthrie county. de-
,clareS:
Section 1. Boards Of supervisors
shall cause all Of the highways in their
Jurisdiction to be patroled as herein
after provided and to carry out the
provisions Of this act they are hereby
empowered and required to appoint
patrolmen for the county road system
and fix their compensation, who shall
be known as county road patrolmen
and who shall hold their office during
the pleasure Of the board so appoint
ing them.
Sec. q: The road patrolmen shall
give their entire time to road work
from the beginning Of the road working
season IN the spring. until its close in
the fall OF the year and such additional
time az the board of supervisors may
direct.
Sec. 8. 0oards Of supervisors shall
assign. allot sf parcel out to the county
patrolmen such sections Of road or
roads az they can patrol and properly
care for and It should be the duty Of
the county patrolmen to go over all the
roads in their respective sections at
least once each week and said patrol
roads or bridges as may be reported In
need Of attention.
Sec. 4. 1t shall be; the duty Of the
patrolmen herein provided to drag or
cause to be dragged after each rain
and at such other times as may be
necessary. all the county roads that
lie within their respective sections and
to remove all trash, debris or other
from the entrance to
sluices. culverts, and bridges and keep
the same and their outlets open and
free from Instructions. They shall
keep the side bitches along the grade
open and provide said bitches with
ample outlets. They shall remove loose
stones and other impediments from the
beaten track Of the highway, fill de-
pressions and keep the roads free from
ruts, water pockets and mud holes and
shall repair approaches to bridges and
culverts and keep the said approaches
smooth and free from bumps and shall
perform such other duties and comply
with such rules and regulations as may
be provided by the board Of super
-Yisors.
Boards Of supervisors shall provide
patrolmen with such tools and equip
ment as are necessary to carry out the
provisions Of this act and said patrol
men shall receipt to the board OF SUI
pervisors therefor. Said patrolmen
shall give bonds for the faithful per-,
Torrance of their duties and for the
care Of tools and equipment in such
sum as the board Of supervisors may
direct which bond shall be approved
by the board"