Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1876-02-24
Turnpikes-Cost-Advantages.

II we could prevail upon the people
of Gallia county to enter upon the
system of building Turnpike roads,
we should feel that we had accom-
plished a lasting good. With such
thoroughfares in use, we might look
for a rapid advancement in popula-
ton and wealth. With nothing but
mud roads, we shall stand still, if not
retrograde.
Union county, this State, has
thoroughly tried the experiment OF
building Turnpikes, and Judge P.
B. COLE plainly gives the result in
the following letter to a citizen OF
Crawford county, where the construc
tion of such road is being agitated:
JOHN HoPLEY, EsQ.-DEAR SIR
Yours of the 22d ult., directed to me
at Marysville, has been received.
cannot answer your interrogations
with great accuracy, but can approx
mate the truth.
l. Number Of miles gravel road
in Union county, about $50.
2. Average costs per mile, $2OO0
8. Where the gravel had to be
hauled long distance, or when the
grading was very heavy, the cost was
much enhanced. Some miles cost as
much as $25OO, and others not to ex-
ceed $500.
The roads were made of gravel ex-
clusively-our gravel was of medium
fineness-not coarse nor yet sand,
but fine gravel. This makes the best
road, cements and becomes a solid
mass much better than gravel, be-
cause much smoother and equally as
solid.
In Union county we proceeded un-
der the acts authorizing tax to be as
sessed for two miles on each side ot
the road, upon petition of a MAORI
ty of the land owners.
The County Commissioners issued
the bonds of the county to pay for the
work, and then assessed the lands to
pay the same, principal and interest
We regard this law as the best fol
the purpose of constructing roads.
These improvements are Of almost
universal popularity among farmers
and all others.
In the first place there was great
opposition from farmers; but after
they had tried one road, there was no
trouble to get all we wanted.
Z. The value of lands, especially
in the newer parts of the county, has
gone up remarkably; lands previous
ly selling for twenty-five to thirty
dollars per acre, have gone up to for
ty-five and fifty. On the older and
better improved parts, the per cent
of rise has not been quite so great,
though the advance has been marked
everywhere Lands formerly selling
at so and rs dollars per acre, will
bring $50 and 800; and this notwith
standing the universal tendency
downwards, in the price of land.
But the towns Of the county,
Marysville and Redwood. have more
than quadrupled in business in the
last five years, simply because the
Apeople can get to town any day in the
kear, whereas, formerly there was
e half of the time that it was near
impossible to go to town.
People come to regard it in the
same light as the building of barn,
house, or fences--simply as an i'm
to their estates, and a
ySpftable thing to do. In addition,
it Drugs large amount of outside
capital inse the county. The bonds
are sold, generally to outsiders. 1t
affords employment to laborers, and
is gradually paid back, and the gen.
eral prosperity is advanced.
We have some ten roads connected
with Marysville now graded, and 1
have no idea that any contributor to
their construction could be induced
to give up the roads and return to the
old mud roads, if they were paid all
the money they paid twice told, and
with interest added.
I remain yours, truly,
P. B. COLE.