Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-11-28
ooGAvER IOWA ASSOCIATION TO
vNoG ADOPTION OF PLAN
s. ~ LE0ISlATURE.
pGoplE o. COUNTIES
: VOTE ON CONTRACTS
uW1sp Ueeida Systssn Question >-of
Paved Highways 10 Lett to Voters
Aft,r Prsjsst 10 Approved by Sup.
erxisers and Cost pstsrn,insd-stats
Red Nesting Called For December.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Noines. Nov. 2S-The Greater
Iowa Association will have road
program to present to the Thirty
sighth general assembly. 1t was par
tally outlined at a meeting OF the SUBJ
committee Of the good roads bun EAU
of the association at meeting hello
in Des Moines Wednesday. This COM
mittee decided on a program to recon-
mend to the association proper when
it meets here Dec. IL and the assocla-
citation will then map out its procedure
before the legislature.
The SUBJ committee meeting here
Wednesday decided to recommend 10
the association that IL work for the
adoption by the Iowa legislature OF
what is known as the Florida plan LOT
road improvement. This plan pro-
yides for the people to vote on road
lmproyement of importance before Inc
county supervisors can close con-
tract for the work to be done. In TINS
way it would be possible for some dis
tricts to secure paved roads If ma
ior;ty vote declared in favor of such
roads.
Under the Florida plan the board Of
supervisors, after securing the APP
prevail of the state highway commits
sion, would advertise and receive bids
for certain piece of work ana woulo
let the contract subject to the approval
OF the voters. When the proposition
was put up to vote the voters would
therefore have before them exactiE
what the project would cost and the
full details Of the contract would be
available and could be discussed be-
fore the voting took place. On am
proyements it is thus claimed the ma
jority sentiment could be obtained.
Joe L. Long, Of Davenport. who has
given much consideration to road
building in recent years. is chairman
Of the sub committee of the good roads
bureau OF the Greater Iowa Assocla-
ton. The other members present
Wednesday were j. G.. Abraham
farmer living near Mount Pleasant, w.
J. Tobias. Of Anita, and w. Z. Powell,
Of Cedar Rapids.
The Contract System.
In a discussion of the plan which
vas decided on by the committee
known as the Florida plan Chairman
Long gave out the following state
ment:
Down In Pinellas county. Florida
few years ago the people wanted 10
build a system of roads. Engineers
estimated the cost at s75G,000.
"The people therefore estimated all
the way from half that amount to
twice the proposed sum. The debate
was all on how much instead OF
what
FINALLY some one suggested that
they find out how much it would cost
by asking bids and letting the con-
tract subject to approval by the
people.
This was so much like i private
corporation would do that it at first
shocked the people but the more they
studied it the better they liked the
idea and since no one could think OF q
reason why they shouldn't do it thai
way they tried il. Bids We're asked or
twenty sections of the road and on the
entire job.
Naturally the low bid was on the
entire job and the contract was let for
Ss97, 900 and the contractor put up a
Torrance of the contract
1.-The people then voted $4,000 to
cover the contract and engineering ex'
pense and the contractor went TO work
Since then the same custom has been
followed in other counties with ed uallI
satisfactory results"
The sub committee Of the asSocia
ton in session Wednesday also talked
over the much discussed state bon(
issue plan and the majority of the
members declared themselves agains
it, In its recommendations to the as
sociation the committee will discour'
age any action looking to an endorse
ment Of this plan.
Two years ago the association was
active III supporting the state high
way commission in .he fight made
against it in the legislature. For hi
activities against the Pitt-Johnson bill
Speaker Pitt during one Of the red no
sessions of the house ordered Wood
worth Cium. secretary OF the Greater