The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-11-01
TURNP1KES.
Recommendations For, and How 10
Proceed
To Iuaugurate Such Roads In Dallas
County.
Some Few Practicable Suggestions.

oohiO fNn AiuNhCuDic 1HSbOntVhS'
DALLAS, Oct. 2S.-TEditor HERALD. THE
time has arrived when the subject OF county
turnpikes should engage the earnest atten-
ton of the people and commissioners
court OF Dallas county. BY this is meant
that under the amended constitution for
the iirsc time, the power exists TO under
take system of such works. The great
necessity for them and their ines Unable
value to the farming interests Of the country
are too thoroughly felt and understood TO
require argument,
The only law applicable to the case. so
far as revenue is concerned, is the lately
adopted section nine, article eight, OF the
constitution which reads thus:
ART. 8. SEC. 9;-The state tax on proper
ty, exclusive OF the tax necessary to pay
the public debt. and of the taxes provided
for the benefit OF public free schools, shall
never exceed thirty.five cents on the one
hundred dollars valuation; and no county,
city or town shall levy more than twenty
five cents for CITY or county purposes, and
MOTTO exceed fifteen cents for roads and
bridges, on the hun ired dollar valuation, &c.
The taxable properly OF the CITY
and county OF Dallas is now $4,000
000 increasing in the ratio of $4,000
900 annually. Fifteen cents on the humid
uually enlarged as assessable values in
crease. Eighteen thousand dollars will
pty 6per cent. interest on $500 900, at which
rate the county can borrow from the State
on its six per cent. bonds at par,
bat suppose we begin by borrow,
ing two hundred thousand, the interest on
which would be twelve thousand, leaving
six thousand of the road fund as n sinking
fund and for special cases in regard to
bridges etc, La doing this we may econo-
mise by borrowing first one hundred thou
sand, and when that is exhausted, say az
the end of six or nine months, the second
hundred thousand, on which the interest
would be saved until we were ready TO use
it.
wise and u L system of turnpikes mCy be
nauguraLed. By way OF illustration
and to guaranty an equitable
distribution of roads in the country, it has
been suggested 10 build two central roads
from north to south and east to wesl
through the county. In theory. this is
right, but in practice the idea would have
to be varied to suit the facts and necessl-
ties involved. By strictly follow ng the
hrst suggestion all the roads would be near
and parallel to existing railroads, which
already furnish a measure OF local relief 10
the sections through which they
pass. One road northeast iowa Is
Ryckwsll oDa northwest into Grape
vine, one souJherly between the Santa Fe
and Central, especially the two first, are
probably of more pressing necessity than
would be the routes first mentioned. But
all such details may be safely left in the
hands of the commissioners court, con-
posed of five honorable citizens, residents
in different parts of the county. Other
economies OF considerable Importance sug
aests themselves. Across the river bottom
we have already ever n mile OF excellent turn
pike 1t answers already and will do so
permanently, as the main line for
roads for the south, southwest,
north west and west. Extend it five miles
farther 10 near Eagle Ford and 1t will ar
swer that far, six miles in all, for road
west, and also one to Grapevine. This in
all is q saving of eight miles in building
roads in the four directions named, the
turnpike already butt beng alone equlya'
lent to four miles of separate road-tnence
the five miles to Eagle Ford, as trunk for
two roads is the equivalent of ten miles.
Then again, the two corporations of Dallas
and J. lst Dallas, nave length east and
west of q miles, and this distance would
be saved az least TO the country people in
any turnpike running east or northeast. for
towns have to make their own highways.
In fact one main line something north or
east, five miles to White Rock would
answer, so far, Tor both directions, as no
pike would be built below the present
Scyene crossing OF that creek.
Gong north and northwest q similar
saving of a mile or more would be had
and a common trunk could be used
for three miles across Turtle creek. 1t -
believed that where necessary many farm
ers would cheerfully give the right-ot-way
tor turnpikes who would do nothing OF the
kind for ordinary public roads. The double
advantage OF drainage and paved roads
would only lead them 10 this in many
cases. Besides, they could often allow
them through their fields without double
fencing, or any at all, along the road, as
railroads pass through them, by simple and
cheap contTivances at the points OF ingress
and egress.
The dictates OF common prudence de
mand that before any fiual step is taken or
final responsibility assumed, the coma
sioners' court should have proper surveys
and examinations made, aud lay Down
general plan, having Tor us base utility,
economy and fair dealing 10 each grand
division Of the county.
IL can be shown that any farmer six to
eighteen miles from Dallas, raising SIX bales
OF cotton or the same weight Of grain, for
sale, in any average fail or winter, will save
more bv a turnpike than his taxes tor
this purpose will amount to.
As 20 the cost OF such works, 1 am NOT
prepared TO estimate. but in most neigh
borhoods white rock and gravel are acces-
sible and IN many cases they are on the
ground. The turnpike across the river,
after eleven years use, and being dozens OF
times covered for days by overflow, proves
beyond cavil that those materials, upon
foundation Of raised and drained black
land, make an excellent and durable turn
pike.
The annual levy on the property OF the
couiiy will be a bagatelle compared with
the blessings TO flow from such roads, ena'
bling the farmer twenty miles away 10
leave home at 8 O'Clock with bis loaded waE-
on, visit town and take supper at home.
with more care and comfort 20 himselfand
horses than is possible for one six miles
out when our roads are in such condition
a. they sometimes maintain for two or
three consecutive montnas
Another thought is worthy OF note. The
money used and debt Owed are domestic
a. q the interest Is only one-siKih 20 one
fourth Of what was common in TINS STAT
for years until recently. j. ID. ID.