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All auto drivers are good road boosters but not all good road boosters are auto drivers. Good roads are fast winning their place among the inhabitants of the extreme rural districts for the reason that they enjoy driving to town on a good road as well as any one else.
In Northern Iowa we have a gently rolling surface on which to build our roads and an abun-dance of black dirt and some gravel and we find the first requi-site of a good road is proper drainage and in cases of black soil or gumbo this is usually a difficult problem, as those condi-tions are generally found in a low country where there is prac-tically no outlet for drainage. The most satisfactory results seem to be obtained from running a line of drain tile parallel with the road on one or both sides, depending upon the degree of moisture. No road bed will hold its grade if it is underlaid with water.
Second. The roadway should then be properly graded and give[n] a covering of gravel.
Third. This grade should be maintained by a systematic use of the Kind road drag.
Road building out of pure dirt has reached a science in Northern Iowa. A level road rounded in the center with good drainage on each side, kept well dragged with a smooth surface makes the best auto road known during dry weather on account of the dirt cushioned surface and when it rains the water runs off, and after a little sunshine, going is soon good. Now all the road on the North Iowa Pike, the noted auto route through Northern Iowa connecting McGregor on the east with Sioux Falls on the west, is not in this condition at this time, but it is the ambition of the auto clubs to get it in such condition as fast as possible. Particular attention is being given the matter of securing the expenditure of a good portion of the automobile tax fund on this road and the various Commercial clubs are bringing the matter to the attention of the boards of supervisors in the different counties with this thought in view.
An organized effort is being made to get the old style board bridge taken out and new cement bridges put in in their places. With proper drainage we find that a great many of the small culverts can be taken out entirely; that by study and systematic organizations a great many things can be done at a nominal cost that add greatly to the convenience and pleasure of automobile driving.
The effect of a thoroughly drained, well graded and properly dragged road may be spoiled by poor bridge and culvert approaches. I have in mind two counties in Northern Iowa wherein it is only to drive over the roads and notice the difference in bridge and |
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culvert approaches to determine the location of the county line.
The modern concrete bridge and culvert once properly constructed is doing wonders to remedy this fault, and I believe Northern Iowa will compare favorably with any section of the state in the number of these constructions now in use. Besides affording pleasure to the motorist, bridges and culverts of this type require practically no repairs. Where only a small culvert is required I believe the sectional cast iron culvert manufactured by the Vulcan Iron Works of Mason City, Iowa to be the best. Should any of those culverts become clogged in the center or elsewhere, that particular section may be removed and cleared, which is not possible to do with small concrete or galvanized iron culverts. Many of these cast iron culverts are used in this locality.
The construction of improved and permanent highways will revolutionize life on the farm and in the country more effectually than any one thing. The dreary, lonesome life on an isolated farm, under present road conditions will vanish, the country will take on new life, intensive farming will become more general, thereby increasing the earnings.
With a system of improved permanent highways the market would be accessible to him at any season of the year, the result being a better adjustment between supply and demand. Land adjacent to improved highways will materially increase in value, variously estimated at $5 to $10 per acre. Of course the increase will not attach to each of the 32,228,1000 acres of farm lands in Iowa. Improved highways would, however result in an increase in values that could not fail to reach startling figures.
Owing to the conditions of the roads at certain seasons of the year communication between the country districts and the rest of the world, is to a great extent, cut off. This great body of our people, therefore, is isolated from the outside world during these seasons, and living apart from one another as they do, the embargo placed upon social and business intercourse among themselves. They are thus deprived of many of the leading advantages which our present state of civilization and advancement should afford them, and which are enjoyed by those living in cities and towns.
"A continued deprivation of these privileges has brought about discontent on the farms and has resulted in their abandonment. This is especially true of the young people, growing weary of the isolation and dreariness of the present condition of farm life, they are enticed away by the attraction of the city and there driven into unhealthy occupations. That, |
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to a considerable extent, this condition would be alleviated by improved roads is unquestioned."
"The advantages of improved roads have been carefully computed and estimated in dollars and cents, and so enormous have they been found to that it is a telling argument for their improvement. The pecuniary benefits, however, sink into insignificance when compared with the social, moral and intellectual advantages--advantages which cannot be measured by any monetary standard, but must manifest themselves in the elevation of our citizenship and the moral and intellectual advancement of our people.
"Improved roads have a good influence because they permit an easier intercourse between the people in the cities. They facilitate rural free delivery whereby the farmer is able to receive his daily papers and magazines and keep in touch with the social, political and commercial activities of the nation. They develop a better social and intellectual condition by bringing the people in close touch with their schools and churches.
(By Chas. E. Bradley, Chairman Good Roads Committee, Atl. Com. Club)
The good roads that lead to and surround Atlantic have made her popular. Rome was made famous by the seven hills on which she was builded.[sic] Atlantic is becoming popular by the seven great highways that lead into the city. She is the hub of the universe, being connected with the rich farming country by the well kept roads. Men make cities, farmers make roads, there isn't anything that can more closely connect farm and city than a good thoroughfare between them. We know of no place in Iowa, where this has been more effective than Atlantic. Each farmer is now doing more than his part in making and maintaining good roads in the Atlantic territory.
When the automobile associates founded the famous "River to River" road they placed Atlantic as one of its most prominent points on this famous route, because of her good roads leading in and out of the city.
Later when the great Transcontinental Auto Road was established the promoters were attracted by the fine valleys, the rich farms, the well worked and kept highways and as results the "White Pole" road leads all tourists thru Atlantic.
The Atlantic Commercial club and the progressive farmers hope to show all who come our way better and more proficient roads and make Atlantic rank first in good roads in the great middle west. |
