The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1875-04-01
ALTERNATIVE SYSTEM.
EltarRe4ister:

! Eiit0T ltGglSter:;
As another vote has been ordered to
be taken upon the alternative meth
cd Of keeping in repair our county
road" few words upon The subject
may not be out of place. I was OPP
POSED to the adoption of the alteEaa-
tive method, and believed then, as l
believe now, that if the people IN
derstood the matter clearly, that they
would not adopt that system. in this
view of the case, If the space can be
granted, l viii examine the matter
at some length. In the first place,
| the general law provides that all
male citizens between the ages OF
ii and 80 years shall work the roads
two days at least, if that number be
necessary, and for sickness or other
disability. they are entitled to be ex-
cused. The new Law taxes all male
citizens over d years of age SL50
per head, thus bringing back to duty
those who by long and faithful serv-
ice have beenexemptcd, and levying
"a poll-tax upon them whether they
are fifty or seYenty-fve years old, and
whether they are physically disabled
or not.
Then again, especially at such
times as the present, it is much east
er for our farmers in the country to
work day or two on the road than it
is for them to put their hands in
their pockets and pay . dollar or two
in money.
But let US examine the most seri-
Gus and most material objection
Without having any exact informa-
ton upon the subject, I will make a
calculation, which if not correct,
will at least suggest the idea upon
which each can base calculation for
himself.
There are ten road Districts in this
county, and 7 do not think it would
be too great an estimate to say that
on an average there are fifty miles of
public roads in each District, making
in the aggregate FIVE hundred miles.
By the alternative method thisis all
TO be let out to contractors in half
mile sections, making one thousand
sections, and whether let to many or
few contractors, makes necessarily
one thousand contracts.
It's well known that our govern
mcnt has lately had some sad expe-
ricace with contractors, and that a
contract with the public is always
looked upon as an opportunity to
make something more than could
have been made out of tie same
contract # it had been an indiridu-
al one. But leave this view out Of
The question, and say that the farm
ers through whose places the roads
run, take the contracts. Noone who
is capable of performing his contract
would make q bid without first max
ing calculation as to how much it
would cost to buy q set Of tools OR
implements to perform the labor
with, or II he already has them, how
much the wear and tear woald be
worth. Under the old law tools are
provided by the parties working the
roads. except plows, scrapcrs and the
heavier implements. Then he would
necessarily make some estimate for
contingencies that might arise in the
course Of the year, such as cxtrao-;ii-
nary washings Of drains, giving way
of culverts, &c. Now, under the old
Law these contingencies are provided
for just as they arise, if they never
occur, they are never paid for, bat
under the proposed law We must pay
for the probability of their happen
ing. Although man might rot de-
sire TO make anything by working
the public roads, he certainly would
not want to Lose any money.
Now let Us make the contracts,
he would certainly be very III
efficient business man who wouldnot
allow himself margin of at least
ten dollars profit On his contract, af-
ter making an estimate of what the
work would actually cost, SO as to
insure himself against actual loss.
This on one thousand contracts would
amount in the aggregate to $1,000.
For what! working the roads? not at
| II 6. ~. ,,.nE. ,nn,, 4hn