The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-04-01
Somerset, Ohio, April I, 1880.


SAT ABOUT The PROPOSED PIKE.
Having arrived at the conclusion
that the Representative from this
county had been a public man long
enough to be interviewed and had
been a politician sufficiently long to
be bored, we called at his house on
Saturday night last, and after apologi-
zing for interrupting the play he was
having with Johny, unceremoniously
commenced the pumping process as
follows:
How Is the Pike?
The pike as far as / know is in
STATUE QUO. Senator Jackson's bill
is still in the Senate. where it will
probably remain, having accomplished
its object, that is of getting an express
sion from the people. My impression
was that the bill would call forth the
opinions and feeling Of each and ev-
cry locality in a more practical and
definite manner than any other, and
for that reason, if tor no other, / free
ly yeonsented to its introduction.
Are you in favor of turnpikes.
I am under certain conditions. /
have long since regarded our present
system Of road working foolish and
improvident a mere waste Of labor re-
peated from year to year without any
beneficial results. / mean the labor
expended on the roads during the
summer. no matter how judiciously or
skilfully applied is followed by win
ter Of horrible roads and by the next
summer all is washed away, then
the same old experiment is tried again,
and as time and labor are money, vast
amounts Of that useful commodity are
thrown away yearly by the old road
making system.
What is the result of Senator Jack.
sons bill2
To my surpise it developed opposi.
ton where I did not expect it. For
instance in the townships on the line
Of the projected route; this ! was sur.
prised 10 find.
Do you think Seuator Jackson's OBJ
ject was more especially to promote
the interests Of New Lexington than
the general good?
Think he had no selfish motives OF
that kind, and I have good cause for
thinking so. The pike enterprise was
not broached until after I had spoken
to him suggesting the introduction Of
bill to build road from our town to
Downey's or George Green's coal bank
for the use of Somerset. Upon my
proposition to build this road, Mr..
jackson said why not build one
through the. county north and south.
remarking he would prepared bill and
introduce it, which would at least
cause an expression of opinion.
Have you any objections to the
jackson bill2
Yes, the building of theroad on the
general taxation principle / feared
would bevery Objectionable and has
proved to be very unpopular and pos.
sibly impracticable, and another OBJ
lection, it may force pike through
q township when a majority are op.
posed to it; but as I before stated this
was not the object of the bill.
What do you think of Senator
Jackson's bill providing for the sur.
vey and estimate of the route?
i have no objection to it as the ex.
pense will be triAing and will give a
correct idea of the cost of this enter.
prise, then all can make up their
mind more intelligently as to whether
we can stand the expense or not, and
if majority in township want the
pike they should have it.
Notwithstanding the opposition to
your short line to the coal, do you
still favorit?
l do, and for this reason. 1t i.
road more travelled than any in the
county, and our town and vicinity de-
pend on these banks for their fuel, bal
for months some winters this road is
impassible, then the railroad take.
advantage of our misfortunes and
charges exhorbitant prices which
comes from q class that can not lay in
sufficient supply todo them through
she winter during the summer and
fall months when it is cheap. / be
lieve Reading township could make nc
better investment than to build thil
road for the benefit Of the rich as vel
as the poor.
At this junature our town bel
struck nine. and not desiring to max,
this first interview too exhaustive, re
tired.
From WelIen's station.