Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1877-07-07
THE COUNTY ROADS.

on one occasion the low lands in the
eastern part OF the county being Hooded
to such IN extent as to carry away sew
eral large bridges and nearly MI the
culverts. These rains not only did great
damage to bridges, but washed the
roads u very badly. and the conse-
quence has beer that in many places they
have been gradually growing worse
until the people are determined that they
shall be put in better order. Knowing
the interest felt by our citizens in the
matter, the Intelligencer has given it
considerable attention has from time Ia
time mentioned particular roads and
bridges which needed repairing,a and. in
order that everybody might he CONVEX
SAINT with its provisions. printed, III the
issue Of May 18th. the iull text of the
road law As persons who frequently
speak without reelection. blame the law
tor the bad condition of the roads. we
will point ont one fact which 1t seems
should satisfy them. There are two
plans by which roads may be worked.
One is by Il poll-taX. which the citizen
may work ont on the roads AZ So much
per day. and the other is by raising a
property tax for The purpose. and then
letting the roads ont to the lowest and
best bidder. The opponents of the pres
,4li Ia ~ who trnIiItI,.. ~ ,tnl.,.ti,, c..
do So. generally. upon the assumption
that the roads should be worked by the
latter plan and not the former. Where
= country is wei! settled up we incline to
lla, opinion. but rs the representative
| goes 10 tn" legislature To. in some de
| gree at least. represent the sentiments
ture reflect the will ot 4 majority of the
people in permitting citizens tn work
nut their road taxes II not, they pro
viLed every district in the state 4 remedy.
Section II OF the law provides that. the
county courts ma let out the contract
tor working the roads in the various
to''i tiHiIItIS III tic SLUT. 10 tIit lowest
and best bidder. whenever a majority of
the taxpayers III any road district shall
petition Tor the same. and signify their
Willingness to pay their road-taX in
money So that if a majority of the
taxpayers, in any district IN Lafayette
county, prefer the contract system, they
have but to say 81.
With a view OF ascertaiuing what
steps. if any, the county court WAS tax
ing toward improving the condition OF
the roads. we yesterday sought Judge
Prather. and subjected him to
An Interview on the subject. The
glst OF what the Judge had 10 say
was that the court had for some time
realized the Importance OF making an
effort to place the county roads in good
order. aud that much discussion had
been had between the Justices on the
subject. One result OF their dciiberu-
tons was that the ten cents levied ordi-
nar!iy ass road tax. and collectable bv
the road overseer>, was this wear levied
As genera revenue This was done
from the tact that as il has been collect
ed III the past it has amounted 10 little
or nothing persons i'll many cases only
pretend 70 work it out. and the result
has been that certain districts have not
only not placed their roads in condition
by their labor, but have been without
piauks and nails. As at ptr>-ut levied
the tax Will be closely collected. and
that derived from each district will 20
toward repairing its road. and bridge
HE nudge said that the suggestion made
bv the lntei!Igencer regarding Il special
COMMISSIONER would be 4 good one had
not the court secured the necessary intor-
nation by interviews with the various
oYerseero. He informed us that IN ih,s,
interviews the OverseerS had been told
by the court To use their labor To- .h..
very best advantage. and that when
that was exhausted. it the roads were,
still IN need OF labor. to hire hands and!
place them in absolutely good condition.
HE county is prepared /" pay cash tor
all work done upon the roads. and con
~se4uently vii. iind no trouble in gettln"
hands adapted to the work. In regard
to the road up the river the Judge said
that Mr.. Mcdonald. the commissioner.
had recently been to Independence to
see the managers OF the Narrow Gauge
railroad concerning it. and that they
had promised to go to work at it in ten
days from the time of his visit but a.
similar promises had been made before.
he was instructed. il the railroad did
not show a disposition to repair the road
at once. to hire hands and work il in
good style himself.
We are glad to see, from what we
gathered ron Judge Prather, that the
court is alive to the Importance OF plar-
ing the county roads. not only in pass
able, but in good condition. With such
instructions to OyerSeerS it will certainly
only rest with them as to whether or not
we are to have good roads. While we
have some good overseers in the county
there seem to be some who take very
little pride in their work. To every
man who takes no interest il the roads.
except the selfish one ofkecping IN good
order the one he markets his own pro
duce over, we say that he is not fit tor
the place he fills, and should resign.
There is another class, too, who should
never be permitted to act in a public
capacity-men who. when work is done
for the county, think that it should be
paid for at 4 higher rate than when
done for individuals, and who would
Slight IL piece of work done for
the public, when they would rndeav-
or to do faithful work for u private par
ty. What VT need now isa Lctrrnina-
ton on the part of every road overseer
in the county that his roads ShoU be
placed in good order. They should feel
their responsibility to the people. and