The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-02

for each road is generally owned by from
one to three persons, who the directors,
having been such by self-perpetuation for years,
ana the roads chat are well managed pay fair
dividends. Having a road-bed and embank-
ments. solidifed by nearly twenty years con-
tlnual use and repairing, the expense of keep
ing up IS mere trife, compared with earlier
years But now when the time approaches
that the roads, under the law, are to become
free, bill is introduced in the House of Repre-
sentatives to extend the charters of these roads
twenty years longer, on petition cf-not the
landhoiders, whose lands were taxed to build
them, not upon petition of those living along
the road, who generally use it, and by whom
and for whose benefit it was principally con-
structed, but on petition of a majority
OF the directors generally three persons are the
directors of each road-'in counties where the
question of purchase of toll roads has been sub
mitted, or may hereafter be submitted to the
people, and the vote thereon has resulted ad-
versely TO the purchase of such roads, just So
The question was submitted to vote in one coun-
ty, at whose instance and request the writer is
not advised, but one of the strongest arguments
used against the proposition, and which defeated
1t, was that there were several gravel roads that
would soon become free by law, whereas If the
PROF osition to purchase the roads had car
rled, then the road beds including toll-houses
would be appraised at 81 900 or more per mile and
the county would be taxed to pay that price to
few stockholders who now hold the stock for roads
that would soon belong to the county in any
oNoH1 AHu suppose Lney are ali recnafGeTeu Uy
the General Assembly, or by the county com
missioners on petition of the stockholders, for
twenty years
The progress of thought, of events, and of
action is towards free turnpikes or gravel
roads. Several counties in Indiana are full of
them. and more are being built; and it is be-
lieved by the writer this is the true theory and
practice, to secure good public highways.
Should this belief become prevalent, as it will In
few years, then suppose the question is again
roads, would not majority OF The three direc-
tors be found voting for the purchase by the
county OF all toll roads, with the vision of few
thousand dollars from the county for his road in
full viewl This would likely depend upon
whether the emoluments of turnpike director
for twenty years would exceed the appraised
value of the road, supposed to be at least 81, 900
per mile
The only reason urged for the favorable action
OF the General Assembly is the fear 'that the
roads will not be kept up" Oh, yes SO filed
with patriotism and love of the county, the
majority OF the boards are anxious to spend their
time and money for the benefit of the public,
merely to keep up good roads. Why should
they not be kept up by the county2 Section l,
acts 1883, page 12l, amending section 5104 Re
vised Statutes 1881, says That by virtue of
their Office the commissioners of any county are
hereby constituted board of turnpike directors,
under whose management and control all the
free turnplkes In such county shall be exclu-
sively vested" The remainder of the section
pfeScPlpeS 1ulIy now Tree tuFnplkeS shall De kept
up.
Some one with the public welfare at heart
might introduce a bill, and see that it is passed
this session, to amend section 2, acts 1883, on
page 1872 so as to make the law embrace the
turnpikes and gravel roads that may become
free in any manner. and especially those built
under the act of 1865, and amendments thereto,
as we'll as those bought or built by counties,
lest some commissioners might be advised to
refuse to take charge of the roads becoming free
by law. G.
RusHvILLE Jan. 81.