Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1877-01-05
afhe Tell Road Question.


has been circulated among the peo-
pie Of this portion of our county
praying the Commissioners to de-
clare the road between Silver City
and Dayton free road. Up to
yesterday afternoon about two hum
dred and ten names had been at.
tached to the petition, mostly by
property holders in and about Sill
yer City. We belive many signed
without debating the question to
any great extent in their minds and
that many others signed under .
Misrepresentation. As it appears to
us, personal interest or selfshness,
il you choose. ought to dsbar per-
sons living in this portion Of the
county from wishing for free road
to Dayton. unless the nature OF
their business induces them to
travel in that direction very often.
But there are more weighty con-
siderations than those, which effect
alike citizens Of the county in every
quarter. The road now yields q
revenue to the county over and be-
yond the expense OF keeping it in
good repair.
This revenue comes from the peo-
pie, to be sure, but from certain
quarters, where now this free road
movement is most active. is derived
the greater part Of it. Farmers.
m rehants, aud everyone, in fact.
living 10 the southern portion OF
the county ia obliged to pay for
the privilege II diving over n
county road When approac ing Viz
gIuia. but in doing 81 they are pay
irg into the county treasury. and
thus lesseuing tho percentage OF
direct taxation. Then those men
who haul wood iu large load, over
the road constantly. as q money
making business, pay alarge sum
q sum in proportion to the injury
they do the highway-and they of
course would like to see the propo-
sition carry. In fact they are at the
bottom Of the movement. As q
proof Of this We have only to cite
to the fact that q blank con.
tract. ready to be signed by Yer
rington and other heavy wood men,
who are fast getting rich out Of the
traffic they do on this road. ia ex-
hibited by the parties soliciting
signatures, the terms OF which arr
that these men will keep the road
in repair two years il it be made
free. 1t is evident. too, that these
men pay more now as toll than it
costs to keep the road 10 good con-
dition. else why should they desire
q change. And it they pay more
than this cost. the county would be
loser by the change proposed. and
by the county we mean the mass OF
the people. In this light it seems
to us that the movement IN question
is one in favor of special interests,
and not for the benefit of the whole
people. Those who are active in it
assert that Hhe Commissioners are
careless or extravagant in their man
agemen. Of the road, and for that
reason it should pass into other hands,
or ct least he made absolutely free
to the public. This is specious argu-
ment, and will not stand. If, how
ever, the majority of the taxpayers of
the county wish the road made free,
and duly express that wish by I'm.
doubted signatures, it would be sim.
ply the duty of the Commissioners to
SO declare it. The will of the people
is the supreme law. We simply state
here how the matter presents itself to
US. We desire the public will to be
expressed intelligently, and discus
sion will lead to intelligent express
sion. When the will is undoubtedly
expressed, 1t should be obeyed.