The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-09-12
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taken towards the organization of Township
Clubs.
On motion of Mr.. Tucker, the Chairman
was authorized to appoint a committee Of
three in each township TO organize tosn-
ship club
Mr.. Lewis, coming in as the vote was taken,
expressed wish to speak on the question.
The vote was reconsidered, when Nh Lewis
moved an amendment that the Township
Clubs be made auxiliary to the County Club
Carried
Mr.. Burgner moved an amendment. that the
chairman be authorized. to appoint a commit
tee Of one in each township, who shall select
two others to act with him in the organization
of their township clubs. Carried.
The Club then adopted the motion as
amended.
The following committees were appointed
by the chair: For Scott Township, Benjamin
Inman; Madison, Daniel Smith BaIIyille.
George Thraves; Sandusky, Adam Hensel
Washington, Daniel Waggoner; Rice, Peter
Darr; Green Creek, c. R. Huss Woodyllle,
E. Kellogg; York, J. K Richards; Town
send' David Fuller; Riley, Charles Livingston;
jackson, Adam D. Slime Committees re-
queSted to report progress at the next meeting
of the County Club
The Club decided to hold its next meeting
on the Friday evening before the first sstur-
day in October, at P NJ, at the Court
House
Remarks were then, made by Tucker, Ans
den and Lewis in favor of holding our meet
ings at different places, during the fall and
winter.
The subject OF "ROads" Vas then taken up.
Mr.. Lewis opened the discussion. He had
thought much on the subject during the past
two years. Our roads are bad because work
is done on them at the wrong season of the
year. Working roads late in the fall, espe-
cially when done with ploW and seraper, Only
makes them worse. They have not time to
settle and become solid before freezing
weather sets in. Many farmers are so busy
on their farms that the road-work is neglected
until after seeding, and even then it is very
often hurriedly and carelesaly done. Some
supervisors make mistake in ordering out a
squad of men larger than they can manage,
and then about half the time will be spent in
spinning street yarns in the shade. Very few
men will work On the roads as faithfully as
they will for themselves or for each otLer
The law should be changed so as to REQUIRE
every man to pay his road tax in money, and
the money should be spent to the best advan-
tage in fhe improvement of the roads under
the direction of some general supervisor: let
ting out jobs to the lowest responsible bidder,
and paying for work only when properly done.
Mr.. Richards thought the present law good
enough if carried out properly, and that per-
sons interested in a road will do more for its
improvement than strangers who work for
mere pay.
Mr.. Clark said that Mr.. Lewis remarks were
not applicable to all neighborhoods, for where
he lived they worked harder on the road than
they did on their farms.
Mr.. Lewis said his idea was that there are
always some men who are glad to do Jobs of
work on the road when farmers have not
time; and supervisors could easily see that
their work is done in the right time and in
the best manner, and refuse pay until condi-
tions are complied with.
Mr.. Richards feared that the money would
not be expended IN the same district where It
was obtained.
Mr. Lewis said he would like to hear from
Mr.. Van Yalkenburg whether the Constitu-
tiOnal Convection had or would make any
changes in regard to our road laws
Mr.. Van Yalkenburg said: "Mr. Chair
man. do not know as can really answer the
question of the gentleman. The committee
in regard to county matters have not, as vet
discussed the question of roads and other
township afaiIs, which they will perhaps
soon do, but from the tone Of the members of
the convention, it is very evident they will
make very radical changes in township gov
ernment throughout and it is altogether
likely they will form board of county SUPER
visors who will take charge of all such minor
matters"
Mr.. Ferguson remarked that there had been
no radical change in our road laws since the
adoption of the State Constitution.
Mr. Inman, speaking in regard to the con-
struction of roads, said he should do away
almost entirely with the plow and scraper, ex-
cept for raising the road bed in low places
Tho surface soil makes the best road. It
never becomes sticky. No blue or yellow
clay should ever be scraped on top of a road
unless there are plenty of stone pounded fine
to cover it well. Supervisors should stone
their roads as fast as possible. Our present
road law is a very loose concern. In some
places it works well, and in others it amounts
to nothing. If man is able to do a day's
work he Is able to pay the money; ard Il a
supervisor could sell out the work In Jobs, he
would get four times the work done for the
mouey that he would by ordering the men to
do the work themselves.
Mr.. Van Valkenburg said 81 would like
to state further that the committee on town
ship organizations provides that taxes shall
be levied for roads, repairing roads and
bridges, etc.-the object Is to raise tar for
road purposes, instead of following the old
system of working upon roads"
Mr.. Tucker said>he was much interested in
regard to roads, and was sorry so many Of our
people preferred men for supervisors who are
the easiest with them in regard to working on
the road. He thought that as long as we pick
out men for that Office who will give a receipt
in full for work only half performed, or not
performed at all, just so long will we have
bad roads in our county. In regard to work
ing the roads, he said large amount of labor
has been thrown away in using the scraper
Not one man in ten can scrape a road and
leave it as good as when he commenced. They
put the dirt in heaps so that it resembles a
corduroy. 1t should be scraped level, and
raised just high enough tOtake off the water.
The next thing needed is a large, wide
scraper to scrape the roads level after every
heavy rain, SO that the water can run out of
the ruts and not remain to form mud holes.
Then stone the road, finishing if as you go,
and leaving good side track for return
teams. Proceed with the stoning as long as
you can get team to draw at the rate of two
loads OF stone per day. Our road laws are
good enough, if we get the right kind of
supervisors: Some men think if they are on
the road from NJ. until P. NJ, they have
satisfied the law; but he thought if a man
comes at 7 in the morning he should do
days work before he gets credit for it, whether
he gets through with it before night, or
whether it takes him part of next day to do
it. If supervisors see that the work is properly
done, it is just as good as money, and saves all