New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-04
i,ETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
,vrroy,urNr ~ ROADS.

N q. Etae' y ~, n New"
~, s,,,,l, mon Roads In u laic number of
A., f,,rNx !. upcn y subject of great Importance,
= -, q, the M,,neiS and other residents OF the
,or,r ti 10 al classes in city or country; aii ara
,.,. :, l,s. Arcc,ly mtewstcd Tho general truth oil
~. .,,,c mentioned must he apparent, aud 80 is The
ss NJ an alwce total apathy upon the subject among
tAcsr m,~i diNc,ly concerned
A. 49,, M thc States the isber tax sytcm prevails
..rC M, slate and several others there is no other
-, r,,,yNcl hN law, hut IN sumo o the States tue
irwps av leo at liberty |" ad't any owner coninc;
Is p,eNNhlc tia, there arc towns and road-iiStrcts
.,,N.t erN pycpcr set of tools for Wad-makiag;'
have lnowa such in few towns--in at least two
knclApa SsatcS-hvt these arc isolated cascT,
NetN lev persons one competent to supeHh'eh" tue
r,seins and repairing of WadS-pwbahly not nnre
,han cne in Aundrvd Of r'ad oNescefs ~ IL worthy
=, Ne,rs called scicncc, for Il il such, as much rs
a,rning az manufacturing anu as surccp''pie " tut
r,,,yrnrnt ulscn the best prevailing modes
m, Ni,cr has seen two plaps adopted, each OF
Arh r.s pnrtAlly successful and both FAR preferable
4, the prvs,u, miserable apology of road-system IN
lhis SStc,
.,its AMI worked we'll II something like this:
The scStfncn town authorities hire one or more or
,,srscAs nNalmakeYS and cmploy other aborcrs, I'M
er ka M their direction, 10 put the roads IN good re-
cs,,~,hr Su,hcli,ics experimenting the whole. la
rpe instances the towns purchase teams and tools IN
tAcsS they hire individuals who tGnlsh these, but The
thing aimed al is e. put the roads IN the best possible
in case IL frshcts and the Ike requiring immediate
attention. Snc pcrsoh in each schookdistrct is author
iss 10 make such necessary repairs at the expense ct
tie town. 80. ,,
admirably who're efficiently managed IL is the plan
smplOycd in Somc parts ot Connecticut
he rOads Src din ided into classes usually three:
Esrsf.C Class Ro,sds--Only the principal or main
raAi> And 60 I've kept in frsf'rafc order.
SnN,v4. Class RcSsis.-ThoSe of less travel but u
considerable public Importance and TO be kept in good
travelling condition.
Estle travel and to be kept in far condition. but bet
tgg than most of them are al present.
This Classification to be by the commissioners,
~ WHIST is often done, and perhaps is preferable by
cue man elected as highway agent. These classes to
hc subdivied into short sections of one mile or less,
and public zee given when OF where the same VIII
b. LEI al aUcon, by separate sections, to the lowest
bidder, 10 keep tie same IN repair for q torn Of
y,ars-three TO fyo-and b0Uds executed 10 that
sl,c, II no bids are offered upon any sections, or If
those offered are believed 10 be too higa, the coinmS
soaeTs or sseni TO be authorized to employ mch aud
teams 10 r,paiT such sections until contracted.
A r,id system of inspection is necessary, and road
Inspector is spontedususly BY TIE town authorities
arS Dot resident Of the town-wnosc duty is to in
s,ec. Ell roadS year or oiener IN company with
ne az the mad commissioners or the road agent and
II found in proper state Of repair TO 80 certify, upon
which orders are issued for the amount due to each
Contractor.
they wal secure the best roads where most needed
ami if wei managed at less nominal expense than
under the system of taxing certain amount OF labor;
while the gain 10 community in various ways solely
frum the Improvement Of the common roads, will be
beyond computation. The person or contractor who
has certain road to keep in repair for a term of
vear finds Cor his interest to put 1t in the best pos
sible condition the first year. ana to keep it To
my knowledge, sOme towns, by adopting the contract
system have improved their roads at least 100 per
cent in one yesri With the right spirit upon this sub
ict Turnpike and plank roads would be unnecessary
m nearly al of the older States and if done away
WITH would remove an Onerous burden from the pub
6c In certainly costs much to continue to travel
over bsd roads than TO build good roads and keep
them in repair.
Both Of the plans given will require the roadtax to
be paid Id money-as il should be, or its equivalent
but the contract system viii enable those with teams
and tools and who had rather work the amount of their
tax to do 90 and if skifully done, at remunerating
priees.
If the labortax were not done away, but the pres
eut law 30 amended as to allow each town to decide
upon the cOurse to be pursued it would he n relief
frum the present system, which ought to be abol-
ished.
The suggestion for Congress TO appoint q commits
sion to gather facts upon the subject Is an excellent
idea, and. it is hoped may yet be needed
That il Is the duty of State Legislatures to take
hold Of this matter, Is evident to ALL and it is hoped
that seine State if not own, will be willing to take
the lead in 80 desirable REFORM
Yours truly, j. WAsHISGToN SMITH, NJ. ID.
EeH Fraakis, " u, Dec 1855.