The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-01-24
Roads and R-ad Laws.

Roaos ana F@A0 LAWS.
NoRTHFIKLD, Boone County, Indiana, Jan.
H. 1888 i see that our present Legislature
is disposed TO work on our present road laws.
In justice to all concerned, l think they
should move cautiously IN this matter. Prac-
tically speaking, we have had no road law
for the past two years, and to-day on this
account we have our roads throughout the
State In bad condition. After giving the
matter careful consideration, / think it
would be well enough for us to give our
present laws a trial Let us see what effect
it will have. We certainly can improve on
the old system of Supervisors As to the final
and ultimate success OF our present laws we
are not this time able to Judge. The farm
ing community are well aware that good
roads are essential to the prosperity of all
classes of citizens, hence we should have the
best possible methods adopted for the con-
struction and keeping of our roads in re-
pair at the least possible expense. A
great many persons have become dissatisfied
with our present road laws simply because
the present law had to have time TO come
into successful operation. The time will
soon come when we can see what effect it
will have. Until then think we should re-
main quiet. What is TO be gained by return
ing to the old system? 1t would simply
demoralize the people, cause dissatisfaction
and delays. l think the law might be
amended in a few of its characteristics, and
perhaps be improved and simplified to some
extent We live in an age of improvement
Good roads are demanded; streames must be
bridged; hills cut down, and instead of
brush and poles we want to substitute gravel
or stone; all road work wants to be done
with view to permanacy. The days Of
corduroy roads must soon end in Hoosief-
dom.
Again. see, some Representatives are ia
vorlng the free gravel road system. On this
subject L have to say that free pixies are a
good thing for our cities and towns yet to
the farming community they are a luxury
that we can not we'll affJrd. In proof of my
position / will present the following figures:
We have in the State ninety-two Counties,
and they will average ten Townships to the
County, and on an average each Township
has si1ty miles of road. Presenting the
above to be correct, we can arrive at nearly
all the facts From the most reliable stats
tics / can procure it costs, on an average
81, 600 per mile for free roads and 81 500 for
toll roads In order to pike all our roads it
would cost S120, 900 per Township, or 81 200
900 per County, aud for the State. $110, 400 =
600. This would be an enormous sum to raise
Dy Jd4dIiOD, duU W ktcD Lucm III OTUcI
it would require an annual levy of twenty
five cents on the dollar for the first ten
years; after this the amount would have to
be increased. l think our present Legisla-
ture should move carefully in this matter.
| They had far better encourage the building
of toll roads. Let the Counties of the State
first try the experiment of bridging all their
streams, and see if the people are not salts
| fed for the time being with taxation. Three
| fOurths of our toll roads pay little or no
| dividends, yet they maintain themselves.
The law that now exists concerning the
| building of free pixies is sadly defective. and
| under its workings the building of roads is
expensive-more so than they should be.
IL would be well enough for our lawmakers
to overhaul our present free gravel road
laws and try to curtaii expenses, and stop
the cracks and creepy holes. think this is
all we require at present.
| In conclusion, would saw let us have as
many toll roads left rs possible. Buy none.
As soon as road is purchased aud made
free, that soon it becomes a burden to the
| taxpayers of q County. II we travel on q
toll road we pay only for the ride that We
get We pay for the benefits ss We co. DO
one is wroDeed. 1t would be far better to
enact a law to empower the people to con-
vert free roads into toll roads, rather than
| to purchase toll roads and make them free
In this Boone County, we have had an ex-
perience in making free roads, and have
concluded that free pixies are luxury more
| to be dreaded than any other evil that now
besets Us. NeRTHFIELD.