The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1867-12-13
Free Turnpike.

readers are aware that our Legisla-
ture passed a law last winter, author
izing the County Commissioners, of
any county of this State, to levy a
tax on the land within two miles on
each side of any road to improve,
plank or Macadamize said road, by
majority of the residents Of the coun;
ty, who own land within two miles of
such road, petitioning the Commis-
sieners for such Improvement.
There was an effort made last sum-
mer to have the road turnpiked be-
tween Findlay and Arlington. Ape
tition was circulated for that purpose
and many signed it. Others opposed
it and dld all they could to defeat the
improvement, Notwithstanding they
would be beReftted as much as any
body, and that the Improvement
would pay any one who lives within
two miles three-fold more than it
would cost. The plan proposed was
to grade road twenty feet wide on
top, and stone track nine feet wide
and ten inches deep, on the east side,
and then fill up with earth as high as
the stone, to keep them in place,
which would make very good earth
track in dry weather. Those who
were opposed to it, misrepresented
the law to others, and made them be-
lieve that it would cost $4,000 or
$4,000 per mile to build such road.
1t will do no such thing. Such a
road can be built from Findlay to
Arlington for s., 800 per mile. There
is not another road in the county
that can be built as cheap. The
grading will be very light and the
stone will not have to be hauled over
two miles, at any place between Find.
lay and Arlington. There are any
amount of stone at Chamberlin's hill;
when they get four and a half miles
south of Findlay there are plenty of
stone on Mr.. Bishops farm, who very
generously tells the people to take
all the stone they want for said road
and tax him all they wish. He is
not resident of this county. When
they get mile farther south they
will find plenty of stone right on the
road, and from there to Arlington
stone can be had in Eagle Creek in
abundance. Let us see for a mo-
ment, by whom this road is opposed.
1t is opposed by few nonresidents
who own large farms on said road,
and whose feelings should be disre-
garded in the matter. There are
others who say they are not able to
pay the tax which such a road would
cost. Such road is the very thing
that will make them able. 1t will
enable them them to bring their pro-
duce to market when other roads are
almost impossible, and sell it at ad-
yanced prices. AS it now is they
have to do their hauling in the sum-
mer, while the roads are good, when
they should be at work on their farms
and at their crops. Thus, you see, it
would pay well. They could raise
more produce in the summer and
haul it away in the winter, when pric-
es are good. A few figures will, per-
haps, show the thing more plainly
The road can be built for So, 500 pei
/. mile; we have 1850 acres of land to
tax to mile; so we see that it will
not cost ST, 90 per acre to build such
road. Now who is there living or
said road who has q team, and owns
go, 160, or more acres who cannot
work out his amount of tax while
such road is being built, and ther
have the benefit and pleasure of Z
Igood road.
There is another great advantage
/, which must not be overlooked. i
will inclose the valueof the land
within two miles Of said road from
s5 90 to $4,000 per acre, say $1,000
per acre on an average. 1t will maxi
the country between Findlay int
i Arlington worth s250,O0o NOR
than it now is. Some may thinl
these figures pretty Ibig, but l hav'
seen lands double in value in fiv'
I years where they build good pixies
Some, of those men who oppose thi
improvement, have never had tn
adv antages Of a,good pike and d.
! not know how much 1t will add tc th'
wealth of county or the happiness
Iof o people. They can 60 on Q pix