SEVENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X. 597 



only eighteen per cent in farm values, would not do for you farmers 

 in Iowa, where the order of things are reversed and over seventy-five 

 per cent of the taxes are paid by the rural population. 



Our state aid is to come through the Iowa highway commission, that 

 is working on an appropriation of $5,000 per year. (That should be 

 increased to $10,000 by the present state legislature.) It is studying 

 the road problem from a scientific standpoint and putting the same in 

 a practical form so it is applicable to the different localities. The use of 

 concrete for culvert bridges, etc., is being tried out in a practical way, 

 specifications for larger bridges are being prepared. Expert engines and 

 practical workmen are sent free of charge to any part of the state to 

 demonstrate and help in road work. That is the kind of state aid 

 that we need. We don't want the other fellow to do, we want to be 

 taught so that we can do. 



In addition to this, the highway commission conducts a good roads 

 school at Ames for a week or ten days each j^ear for the benefit of the 

 road oflice. I was there last year and I want to say that if each town- 

 ship would send some good delegate there each year and pay his ex- 

 penses, it would be money well spent. Why not try it. Let us become 

 familiar with what the state is doing and give it a good, fair trial be- 

 fore we ask for more. 



For full particulars of the work of the commission address Prof. 

 Thos. H. MacDonald, Ames, Iowa. 



COUNTY AID. 



As the county treasurer receives all the road tax and holds the same 

 for a length of time, it Is well to be in close touch with the county, but 

 the township should not lose its identity. As most counties contain one 

 or more large towns that are built largely by the farmers, it is only 

 right that a part of the taxes paid by the industries of the county seat 

 should come back to the rural districts. 



The county grading gang has worked very successfully in many locali- 

 ties. It has been found easier to get the work done at the right time by 

 letting the work of several townships to one contractor that makes a 

 business of it and has the horses or mules to do the same. Less ma- 

 chinery will be needed, especialy of the heavier kinds. 



Without question, dirt can be moved ciieaper with the use of the 

 elevating grader than the blade machine. As it would take the entire 

 year's tax of a township to purchase an elevating grader, it is out of 

 the question for a single township. This will serve as an example in 

 favor of the county gang and show how better work can be done at less 

 cost with less money invested in road machinery. 



Again, we are living in the cement age. Ten years ago 1,000,000 

 barrels of Portland cement were used in the United States. In 1905 

 25,000,000 were used, and a large part of that went into road making. 



If the county had entire charge of ail the cement culvert work, it 

 could be done by one gang at a less cost with no more money invested in 

 molds and tools than would be needed for two or three townships, and 

 with a good mixing machine and a trained crew all work could be done 

 up to the standard. 



