The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1866-03-16
SOMETHING ABOUT OUR ROADS.
fComninnicated.l

D
EDiroR JouRSAL; Perhaps the question How
shall we make and repair our roads f-morc di-
rectly Interests the people Of Northwestern Ohio
possibly The whole State--thsn any other likely T.
be brought before thcm.
Those OF Us who were residents Of the Maumec
Valley fifteen or twenty years ago, remember
the efnrts pat forth for constructing and repair
ing roads under the free turnpike charter system.
Most, ifuot ali, Of our mud pixies were thus built,
Our present State Constitution SO the wise ones
say-does not admit Of that kind oflegislatiou. As
partial and poor substitute, the six-mill tax was
iustituted-a better-thsn- nothing system while Il
! lasted.
Our highest judicial authority has pronounced
that enactment in conflict with our Fundamental
law. so We are left without any means Of con-
struetiug or repairing roads, save the slight tax
the law authorizes the County Commissioners and
Township Trustees to levy for that purpose, and
the two days pol-lax required Of each man, "with
numerous exceptions"
How far these fall short Of accomplishing the
desired work, let the roads, and those compelled
TO travel them, testify. We are not only not cou-
structing any new roads to speak Of, but our old
free turupikes (and shall notice those directly
are running down, and becoming worse with each
succeeding year, until some Of them are, even now,
at times almost impossible. The exceptions mem
/ toned are where, in few instances, the people
have taken advantage OF the Ditch Law, aud by
that means regarded their roads on one side, and
thus saved them from present destruction. This
has suggested to me the idea Of asking our Iegis-
lature to enact a law authorizing the County Com
missioners to construct roads upon the same gen
eral principle Of the Ditch Law. There certainly
could bo no constitutional objection raised, that
would not be valid against the Ditch Law while
one very serious objection to the latter would be
avoided-tho right of way. don'i propose to ar
que the question: only wish to suggest.
| And there is one other suggestion wish to make
in this connection. We begin to feel the necessity
Of something better than mud pixies, however we'll
| constructed. The conviction is becoming general
that the leading roads between important points
should be macadamized, and that no other style Of
roads yet tested will meet The wants Of our grow
ing population and traffic.
flow shall they be built? This is a question Of
vast Importance. They will not be built by incor-
porsted companies. The profits from toll would
not be sufficient to induce capitalists to invest in
them. They can not be built by voluntary contri-
buttons of those directly interested in their con-
struction. While some would be ready to do all
aud more than could be reasonably asked Of them,
the class of stingy, mscrly persons is too thickly
settled in every neghborhoud to admit Of their be-
ing constructed on that plan.
suggest that the County Commissioners be au-
thorized to take possession of any graded road and
macadamize the same, taxing the lands benefited,
and that towns aud city councils be authorized Ia
make appropriations from their respective treasu-
ries in aid Of such roads as will benefit them.
will say word or two in behalf of this last
proposition. The main, if not the ONLY objection
that will be urged will be the burden of the taxes.
Some will say the people cannot endure it. Then
the roads will never be built. If the whole prop
erty interested not build given road tits GER
tain the few men that would volunteer would not
be sble. And if it would not pay few by increas-
ing the value of property, it certainly would not
pay capitalists in dividends. But am not willing
to admit that none will pay. Some, probably, will
be badly projected and managed as to fail or not
pay the cost but do believe that there are some
lines of road that, if macadamized, would add Sow
era times their cost to the value of the lands in
their vicinity.
have written, Mr. Editor, to call the attention
of the press and people to this subject, rather than
advocate any plan of my own. OF one thing l am
confident: With well-directed system of stone
roads, the Maumee Valley would make advance
ment in wealth and refinement equal perhaps, to
any portion of the United States. With our pres
ent system will find, year after year. other por-
tons of our country outstripping US, and ourselves
stuck in the mud. J.R,
MLBrRY, o., March, 1866.