The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-11-01
County Turnpikes Versus Toll
Turnpikes.
n. -. LrAi.nr Il tho Stataarnan
DurA1, Tex. !, October 20, 1888.

ing any notice of it till now, in the hope
| that some one equally or more interested
in roads would open discussion on the
subject.
J The silence which has reigned since
|. said publication may be construed as ia
voring the proposed scheme, but to my
mind it is merely evidence of a want OF
interest in county affairs, by those who
should be most interested. This apathy
is to be deplored as it is a sure symptom
of want of energy and public spirit on the
part of the denizens of the country and OF
commercial sOmnolence amongst the n err
chants of the city. Farmers and city
merchants are mainly concerned in the
condition of our roads, but beyond a
| grumble, when rain makes them i'm
passable, nothing is said or done to re-
move the evil, and all seem content to let
things drag along in the old ruts,
At the risk of being considered unduly
meddlesome and with the sole object OF
bringing out public opinion, 1 ask leave
to again offer a few ideas on the subject
of roads, subject hardly second in i'm
portance to the people of this county to
the tariff question.
That our public roads are disgrace to
any civilized community is conceded on
all hands.
That they are heavy tax on the farmer
and great loss to the Austin merchant
and consequently to every city industry,
is equally admitted.
That this state of things should be
speedily changed for better is agreed by
everybody.
The only question is, how are matters
to be remedied? Two plans are open.
First-Let macadamized roads be made
by the county, and if the cost should be
more than could be covered by current
income-which would be the case-let
years, or more, or less, as the cost might
demand.
Second-Let said roads be made by
private enterprise, and the cost met by a
toll on all traffic. If we are to have roads
it must be by one of these plans.
For my part, think it is the duty of
the county to make all public roads, and
that only when the county's borrowing
powers are insufficient or have been ex.
hausted that private corporation should
be allowed to do the work. "Pay as you
go" is sound financial precept, but is
not universally applicable.
Individuals and corporations are justi-
fed, under certain circumstances, in in
curing responsibilities to be met in the
uture, and the county Is face to face with
such a condition at this moment. Too
much money can't be spent on our roads
if it is wisely spent.
have waited in vain for some of the
many aspirants to the exalted and all i'm
portant Office of commissioner, to pro-
pound some scheme, that would lift Us out
| of the mud and wiry clay, but, alas, they
are all as dumb as oysters, and if they
have any such scheme they jealousy
guard it from the public.
1t is not to be expected that the present
commissioners will do anything in the
| premises, as their existence as a public
body is nearing close. The construc-
| ton of roads must therefore be dealt with,
| spectfully submit the matter to their
earnest consideration.
hold, that if the bridge now in course
of construction should be built at the
county expense, which is not clear to me,
then all public roads should be
made and maintained by the
county. 1t would be grossly unjust to
build bridge at the expense of the
county, for the convenience of few, even
if that few needed it badly, and the leave
the construction of roads to private enter
prise to be permanent charge on thou
sands who would never get any benefit
from the charge, but would still be COM
PEELED to contribute to it. The chief OBJ
lection to the roads made by private cap
ital is that toll is necessary to meet inter
| est and cost of msintaince. There is
something repulsive in a toll, not merely
ss TO its amount though that would to
many be serious mater, but because it
is IN int rference with the vested inter.
ests and freedom of the subject.
| The roads such as they are, have been
free TO all, since they were dedicated to
the public use, and any talk, however
slight, would be stoutly resisted by many
on principle and can conceive that diff.
ficulties and even bloodshed might be the
result of toll turnpikes, on our existing
roads.
1t is one thing to construct new road
or bridge where none existed before ad
charge for its use, and quite another to
| set up toll on a hitherto free road or
bridge. 1 believe that all roads and
bridges necessary for the general public
convenience should be constructed and
maintained at the public expense, and not
by the particular section of country they
! traverse.
| Those favoring improved roads by pri-
vate capital argue that farmers and those
using the roads should have no objection
| to pay for the better accommodation, nor
would they have any, if called to pay in
the form of tax, that would cover the
users of free bridges, and city merchants
and property owners who would be al
most or as much benefited as themselves.
With 'toll" to pay every trip
they made to town and bridge tax once
year, it would look like paying very
heavily for the blessing, and many living
beyond the fifteen-mile limit would find
their way, as at present, to other markets.
l think every argument is in favor of
county roads at county cost, but il a
thorough investigation of the matter
should show that the county is financially
incapable of doing the work, then I say
let private enterprise step in and help us
out of the slough of despond" in which
we have been struck for so many years.
Good roads we want, good roads we
must have. JOHN G. EDGAR.
Over 100000 bottles of DR.. Bulls
Cough Syrup are sold every season, and
thousands of persons saved from an I'M