The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-01-17
Counfry Roads.

E3iiors Dispatch: As this subject Is at
tracing some attention., q careful consldera-
ton of plans for repairing and keeping them
IN order may be beneficial, and the writer
homes there will be full discussion of the
subject; and let the writers give their views
over their own signatures. Having lived in
New England for thirty.fvs years, where
had roads are the exception and not the rule,
| Lropose to give some of their laws, which
might be enacted with advantage here.
Make eli her counties or magisterial dis
tric's responsible for all damage to persons
Or property by reason Of defects in public
roads or bridges, and these districts would
soon iind it cheaper TO keep them in order
than to pay damages.
The contract system is by far the cheapest
and best, but is Improbable here except in
some favored localities, labor being more
elentful than money. Let the Legislature
enact law which will require say two daVs'
labor from all able-bodied men between the
ages of twentyone and sixty. Give the
supervisors authority to levy an additional
tax, payable in labor, assessed on all real or
personal property, sufficient, in their Judg-
ment, to keep them in order; fix schedule
OF prices for teams and tools at so much per
hour: give the surveyor power to direct IN
WIEI MIDI vi luDUI lulS pay"
Die in labor, shall consist-men, teams, Or
tools; and give bin the same power to COL
lect this tax in money In cases of default as
treasurer has. In any event, let US have
.be present road.law repealed.
In this county large tracts Of land are nom
resident. being held for speculative purposes,
and the laborpg men are required to keep
roads in order through lands which pay no
| road tax.
A surveyor, to work the roads advantage.
ousIy, must repair them every month in the
year but the present law compelS him to
accept the Office, and pays him nothing eX-
cept for sumnoning the hands, and he cam
not oversee more than twenty. five at a time !;
and il he has one hundred in the district
must summon them at different times as the
,ad may require. The old adage that a
stitch in time saves nine is as true OF ROAD
as garment.
The best surveyor in Henrico county tells
me hat since August last he has summoned
his men on the road three days, and has him.
self been engaged eighteen days, and is al
lowed only five dollars for time spent in
summoning bands. Why compel good
officer to spend On the roads more time than
any one else without pay? The present law
Is capable of as many constructions as
political platform, but needs something more
tlan politician to construe it properly.
Probably no county in the State has more
travel on its roads than this, and possibly
none has worse ones.
Enact more equitable law in relation to
building and repairing bridges between
counties. Recently Long bridge, on the
ChickshomiDv, was repaired ut an expense OF
upwards Of $500. and Henrico has to pay
siX-sevenths of the amount, while New
Kent is the only one benefited; and about
the same proportion will be required OF Us
for bridge across Tuckahoe creek, when
Goochland is mainly benefited.
Reduce the width Of the roads from thirty
to twenty feet, and it will cost less by half 10
keep them in order.
The immigrant who visits Eastern Virginia
makes the following objections usually: Lack
of schools. good roads, barns, and fences.
The first objection is fast being remedied.
Now, let us make an effort to remedy the
second, and it will benefit US as well as pur:
chasers of our uncultiyated land.
.... NoRMAND SMITH.
Henrico, January IA, 1876.