The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-23

, County Roads Election Districts
The writer Of the following communica'
ton says no more than the truth when ne
sfirms that II We could by our efforts cause
good roads 10 he made ell over the State IL
would he the most important work OF our
life. VIC wouldn't desire any greater or
more enduring fame than would result
We can hardly conceive OF any language
too strong to express the degree OF the
gratitude that would be due to the man
who should perform sucha serviceior VIZ
ginia.
And the people are ripe for new depar-
mrc. Our short article has been repro
0uced in almost every section OF the oom-
mouweaIth. though It was but little more
than complaint against bad roads. Only
imagine that every county had through Its
centre one road good every day In the
wear. How numerous would soon DC the
lateral branches leading TO every house or
neighborbood in the county. Won't the
Legislature use the penitentiary conv'cts IN
the work OF making one such road IN
each Of few counties? These conyicts
are n source Of trouble to the State. Hon.
est mechanics do not like 1t II they are al
lowed TO compete with them in their trades.
But everybody ia willing, we believe that
conyicts shall make. and work on, pubic
roads. These are the greatest need OF the
State. and the work CT making tirst-class
roads cannot too soon he begun. the
thing to I've done is to show the people that
the more you spend on roads the ricler
YOU are ; in short, that TO spend money IN
making the very best OF roads Is to realize
what is meant by the old saying, "Throw
YOUR money out OF the window and other
people will bring it back through the
door,"
As to the other matter touched upon by
our correspondent, we have nothing TO
say, except to commend it to the attention
Of the Legislature.
SUFFOLK, Va, january 20, 1854.
To the Editor of the Dispatch
You alluded to some practical law that
would enable the people OF this state to
put the public roads in good condition.
1t will be the most important work OF your
life II you can succeed, and trust with
your influence you will leave no stone I'M
turned to secure some such result.
There is one other matter | would re-
spectfully call your attention to: that is
the loose way voting districts are laid
of in the counties at present. | speak for
this county. A registrar has nothing to
guide him except what some one may tell
him. My idea is each registrar and Judge
of election should he furnished with map
or plan Of the precinct, so that there could
be no mistakes. Beside, the present loose
way opens the way to fraud. Cities. as n
general thing, are all right it is in the
country the trouble lies. A map or
plan would make it plain, so that
ii a person was not familiar with the
precinct lines still he would make no mis-
take. Then, in almost every election there
are some poll-books wrong. In close cleo
tons this gives trouble and frequently eX-
pense. do not know that any improve
ment can be made on the present form;
still they should be made as plain and SIM
pie as possible. as many men that act as
Judges have little experience in such mat
tiers. and err through ignorance and not
wilfully. Very respectfully.
ID. B. DUMvILLE.