The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-06-19

expense of constructing and operating our
great railroad system, much OF which, in
deed might be saved through proper ana
efficient construction of our local wagon
roads.
1t is we'll to remind the sensitive tax pay
er, who imagines from the neglected
condition of the highways in his neighbor-
hood, that he Is escaping taxation for road
purposes, OF the large amount OF money
which Is being assessed and collected under
the name of road and bridge tax. During
the past five years from 1880 10 1884, in
elusive. the total amount of road and bridge
tax assessed and collected in Illinois was
$S,SU,7l6.21. The county which leads in
this list Is La sale, being $3.50, 6SI3i; next
to which is Bureau, showing the amount of
road and bridge tax assessed during the
time aforesaid to be $500, 33041. From the
evidences presented as to the condition of
the public roads of the state II must be De.
lived that full fifty per cent OF the eight
millions and upwards assessed and collected
within the five years mentioned was entire
ly wasted, from inefficient management on
the part of the local highway authorities.
II tax payers would grumble less about the
assessment of their road taxes, and give
more attention to the manner of disbuse-
ment of the same, they would find their in
terests materially advanced. Ii is not tn At
burdensome road taxes have been levied,
but we are compelled to confess that the
money raised for that purpose has not BET n
properly expended.
The words of the prophet were, "The
prophets prophesy falsely, priests bear rule
by their means and my people love 10 have
: 90 and what "A, Ill VA al, In tho and thara
of" So on this subject, what shall we do
in the end there #, or in other words, what
is the remedy for this long iuatteution to
our local highways; what shall be done to
put them in that proper condition which
the interests of the people and progress in
local commerce everywhere demands
First, the people must be educa'ed up TO
their own interests, They must select
from among their number as officers TO
take charge of the highways of their dis
tricts, their most energetic, intelligent and
public spirited men. True, the sanction or
direction of law is necessary as the mode
of providing means and securing harmony
of action. 1t would appear as if full pro
vision on this subject had been made
Provision is made for a system of township
organization acknowledged AS the most ett-
cient system existing for the purpose of sue
cess in local public Improvements of this
kind, and the law has provided a mode
whereby it is believed the people in their
local municipal corporations may raise am.
pie funds for sufficiently improving their
local highways as at present demanded.
This reference to the law concerning
highway affairs suggests moments furth-
er attention in that direction. The popular
idea is that law, like medicine anu theology,
is a mystery, addressed to the comprehen-
sion only of the learned. But under our
system of government by the people where
every citizen or member of the body poll
tic is eligible to official position, the in
cum bent of every Office of whichever degree,
is expected to know and understand the
law prescribing the powers and duties OF
the position to which he may be called. A
knowledge of the law is within his reach,
and no man should undertake to till official
position unless he thoroughly understands
the law governing the same.
Under our township organization s, stem
which possesses the pure elements o1 u
democratic form of government, much re-
sponsibility rests upon these local public
officers whereby a through knowledge of
the law pertaining to their powers and dut-
les, is absolutely necessary TO the proper
administration of the local government, but
among them no office is 50 important AS
that of the three commissioners of high
ways, who comprise an official board and
become what may be called board of pub.
lie works of the town. The law perscrib-
ing the powers and duties of this board is
necessarily somewhat complex, and II re-
.l, of IN Glt mar
more than ordinary attention thereto, TO be
come familiar with its provisions 50 as to
enable him to properly discharge his dut-
les; and much of the complaint exist
ing as to neglect in our highway affairs
arises from inattention to the law on the
part of these commissioners.
The great problem to be solved in ac-
complishing the end in view of good roads,
is, as to that mode OF lking them which
shall be sufficient to meet the present de
mands of the public. First of all, men of
practical eXperieuo tell us that there must
be am pie and 81 I'll lent drtinage provided,
BY which the surface water falling upon the
highway will pass off in the quickest posi-
bic time. This it is said may be accom-
plished by lines of drain tile laid along the
course Of the highway in number accord
Ing to the nature and character of the soil,
with drains therefrom passing through ad-
jaCent lands to natural water courses.
This, according TO practical experience,
is the beginning of a good road bed, and
this it is said if properly done is more than
fifty per cent. in the direction of "A good
and sufficient road without the addition of
hard material, which may follow in due
time, and for which it would seem our law
has made ample provision.-From an ad.
ycSS TN +. ". WdineS.