Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1878-01-19
ROADS.


and maintenance in repair Of public
highways has been a matter OF the first
Importance, and has received the earnest
attention of political economists and
engineers. As during tho time OF an
epidemic the character of the prevalent
disease becomes known to the masses,
who had before given it but little
thought. so when months of unpropitious
weather give US roads almost impassa-
bic. everybody becomes a theoretical o n
strlctor OF roads. We are informed that
the oranges Throughout; the county pro-
pose to discuss this question systemati-
cal!y and thoroughly, aud we are glad to
hear it. The farmers of the country are
more interested in good roads than any
other class of people. though the lnhab-
itsnts of cities suffer with them when
roads csnno be- used, and trade is re-
sultautly dull. FROM the discussion OF
this question much good may ensue, and
II OF the benefits will be that many
erroneous impressions regarding the
road law may be corrected.
We heard a gentleman not long since
speaking Of the law as II piece of bar
barisn, because The roads were not
worked by contract. We remarked that
the only reason they were not 50 worked
was because the people Preferred the
plan OF working out their tax" US it
is called. This the gentleman vehe-
mently denied, as he felt confident that
the people were In favor Of having The
roads made and kept in repair by he
contract system. We showed him sec
ton forty-two of the law. which pro-
viIes that whenever q majority OF the
taxpayers in a road district petition for
it, the county court must have the roads
OF that district worked by contract, and
his objection vanished. We mention
because it is the most frequent OBJ
lection urged to the law. though it is an
untounded one to this extent, that il \
majority OF the people IN any road dis
desire the contract system. they
only to say SO to obtain it. 1t may
urged that if some districts in a
ty adopt one system and others q differ
one,it will cause confusion. Not nee
essarily though it would, undoubtedly.
be better to have the same plan" IN force
over the entire county.
Before we attempt to speak OF plans
Tor road working we desire to say Il
word concerning the law in question.
we are not prepared to say that
the road law we now have is by any
means perfect, we do say that few Of
nur people have any idea OF the difficulty
d obtaining such a law as will suit the
counties of the state. There are
one hundred and fourteen counties in
Missouri; OF these, seventv-iive desire
Just such y law as we havc-one under
which they can avoid a money tax tor
and, by doing i little scientific
Sinking, avoid doing much work upon
them. Ii a Clay. Il Webster or 4 CAL
houn were to be sent to the legislature
from Lafayette county, and We're to eS-
pend all his eloqueuce in the attempt to
have a stringent road law passed. his
rhetoric would be wasted, as the gentle
men from the small counties. despite
tue oratory, would vote to suit their
constituents every time.
If this is the case; ii the chances are
that even after another session OF the
no better law will find its
way to the statute book. what is the in
ference? Why. to do the best we can
with what we have. Under the present
iaw there are three plans by which the
roads may be worked, and we propose
TO speak briefly OF each.
First-By the levy of a tax called a
road tax, which tax is collected almost
entirely from farmers, as the property
Incorporated towns aud cities Is ex-
empt from such ak. The assessed
valuation of all the property in the coun-
ty is something over 5000. 900; 81
O0U, 900, or whereabouts. is assessed upon
the property in cities and towns. SO that
this plan the taxes from Sc, 900
300 must work the roads. Under the
new constitution but 40 cents on the
300 valuation can be levied for county
and if more than 10 cents OF
This were set apart for roads, other
funds might be endangered, or a war
rant debt might again grow upon the
which is an intolerable idea.
The objection to this plan, which is the
plain intent of the road law, is that per-
sons having the right to pay this tax
in work generally elect 10 do so, to a
extent, and that it is difficult for
the overseers TO collect enough in money
10 answer necessary purposes; and that
very much OF the labor furnished is not
the price rebated by its use.
Second-The plan adopted in this
last year. OF making no levy for
roads directly, but OF making the levy
Tor all purposes 40 cents, and afterward
apart 10 cents for roads. This
mode of procedure. 1t Is urged. is not
in accordance with the law, but
this VIZ do not now propose to express
opinion. 1t gives to the road fund
50. 900 per annum, instead Of ST 900 as
under the first plan. as the tax covers
the property in Incorporated towns and
cities. The money resulting from the
is paid directly to the owe rseers, out
Of the county treasury, by order of the
county court, and is available early in
the season. 1t is claimed that this is a
better mode, because the overseer can
be held strictly accountable tor the eX.
penditure of the moneys that 60 into
his hands; and because he can employ
such labor as he can make effective. IL
certainly presents this advantage, that
being enabled to get money in the spring
he can work his roads early in the sea-
son, while under the first plan he would
not be able to get the taxes of his dis
trict from the collector until tax-paying
time. which Is in November and Deem
Der.