The midland journal., 1888-01-20
OUR PUBLIC ROADS.
Letter of Lloyd Balderston of Colo
ra on the Road Question.

ra on the Road Question.
Colora. 1st, 18th, 1888.
am not about to write an article just
fixed for publication, but to bring up some
ideas from which the Edit OF the MIDLAND
may CLEAN something worth laying before
the people. The road question that has
been so justly under public notice in this
and Hartford counties does not seem al
preaching any satisfactory solution. I had
heard of a meeting called at Ekton the
other day, but could find no printed notice
of it. If such meeting convened and acted
suppose we shall learn of it.
There is an article on page of the cur
rent vol. of the Country Gentleman that con-
tains views the most practical of any haye
seen.in print.
The whole article might with profit be
transferred to the columns of the MIDLAND
JOURNAL, but l will call attention to few
Of its points.
First, that the inhabitants (taxpayers) of
each district meet and uetermne by three
fourth vote which of the roads in said dis
tr;ct they are disposed to have macadamis-
ed the coming year and the sum of money
they are willing to devote to such improve
ment and any other needed repairs for roads
not yet ma9adamised.
This arrangement contemplates that
such district have general overseer and
provides that the person appointed to as
sess and collect shall receive 5et. from each
tax payer for his fees.
A second point is that room is still. left
for individual effort IN improving the roads
after the general appropriation may have
been faithfully expended.
tits my opinion, that unless "we the
people" work ourselves out of the shackles
Of selishness and become willing to make
some substantial Improvements in roads
about our property. altho' not repaid by
the county, Tor district) no road laws will
of themselves lift us ont of the mud.
The writer VIM. III. Goldsmith cites case
of this supplementing of the district appro-
priation by private effcrt. The result was
that these self sacrificing contributors to
the public good had hard roads from their
doors to their destination, which will ma ks
the outlay, a pecuuiary gain to them, and
in case of needing to sell the road secures
purchaser.
A third point is, that after few years Of
this systematic determined effort, the ex.
pense for needed repairs becomes so reduc-
ed that road taxes, in an amount to be felt,
become thing Of the past.
The article by VIM. II. G., is from Essex
Co., N. Jersey, where I presume natural
conditions are es ,entially the same as ours
To carry out system like this it will be
necessary to place the roads under district
(not conntyl control. Perhaps we neither
need nor can have the county cut into
small townships, for road purposes, and
am not sure that it would be best for each
district as now constituted to act by itself.
There are communities of interest in roads
in different sections of our county and SO
far as we can would diyide the county by
the lines of this community Of interest.
Railroad centres, and market towns, are
points to be considered. And it occurs to
me, that the 9th, Sth and 9th districts of our
county have so much in common, in this
business, that they might act together, und-
er one ov easeer in the care of their high :
ways.
VIM. H. G.. suggests that at such meet
ings none but tax payers should vote-very
just. An d if we cannot extend this privi.
ege by further condition, that voting
should be little in proportion TO the tax.
would extend it IN the other by allowing
any citizen to vote who would pay tax
for the care of the roads
Now am SO much in earnest in this
matter of leaving the roads in this land of
my adoption, in a way to be made or kept
good for the generations to come after me
that l would propose. thou publish call in
the paper for meeting of the taxable and
o,her citizens of the 9th, Sth and 9th dis.
tricts, at some early date.
Many things should be discussed but if
we could he disjoined from county jurisdict.
ion as regards control and road tax, see
no trouble about the rest. The season for
muddy roads is at hand, and in the midst
of such dilemma, the PEOPLE may be more
inclined for action.
Respectfully
LLOYD BALDERsroN.<
Although not intended for puKai-
cation in its entirety, We have thodgkt
it best to give friend Balderston's