(HI8 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



while to devote much time to the first part of the subject for those laws 

 are on the statute hook and open to your inspection. 



However, we sliall briefly give the scope of those new laws. First. An 

 option is given (Chapter 95, Senate File 217), to any community in the 

 state to build a permanent road out of public funds. This privilege is 

 hedged about by conditions, thirteen in number, and is altogether a valu- 

 able statute. So if sixty-five percent of the electors in any township in 

 this county so wish you can proceed to build a permanent road. 



The second statute worthy of mention (chapter 96, Senate File 71) ex- 

 tends to township trustees and like township officials the privilege and 

 right heretofore in doubt, (quoting the exact language of the statute) to 

 destroy all obnoxious weeds or unnecessary brush on the highways, and 

 to warn out labor in the same manner, as for repair on the highways. 

 The right of trustees to warn out labor and clear up brush has heretofore 

 been in doubt. As a part of this law ten noxious weeds are specifically 

 mentioned and called to the attention of the trustees, viz: Canada this- 

 tles, cockle burr, smooth dock, sourdock, buck horn, v.'ild parsnij), horse 

 nettle, velvet weed and burdock. 



Third, a privilege is extended (chapter 97, House File 265), to the 

 board of supervisors, to levy an additional mill tax for road fund; condi- 

 tional upon a majority petition, from any township wishing to lay upon it- 

 self the additional levy. 



Fourth, (chapter 98, House File 5), enacts that the privileges of the 

 old law allowing taxpayers to work out their road tax on the highway can 

 upon a 65 per cent petition be obtained. 



Fifth and last (chapter 101, Senate File 317), the farther use of the 

 road drag was encouraged, and to a certain extent made mandatory. And 

 among other things of this statute a price of fifty cents per mile was 

 fixed for road dragging with the King drag. So much for what the last 

 general assembly enacted into law, all of which we believe to be safe and 

 sane road law. 



RO.VD IDEALS. 



And noT/ before entering into a consideration of the proposed legisla- 

 tion from which we expect so much, let us clear the deck, push things 

 back and decide what in the premises is a reasonarble expectation. This, 

 our answer, is that we want better rounded up, better drained and smoother 

 roads, and especially, each year we want a little permanent road over 

 which on week days we can bowl along with a two-ton load to the market 

 town and on Sunday we can "crank" the automobile, load in the family 

 and go to church. Nor do y^e want all this right away, but we want to 

 have at least, a little permanent road each year. We want to have the 

 sensation of being started. 



THE EOAD SITUATTOX IN IOWA. 



Perhaps it will be just as v/ell, next in order, to take a birds-eye view 

 of the road situation in Iowa and decide "where we are at." We observe 

 first, that we are, in Iowa, expending an immense sum of money for roads. 



