Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1889-01-04
Letter. From the People.

public highways is attracting attention
throughout the country. In MANY
States the farmers, through their
oranges, alliances, and other organiza-
tions are demanding better roads. New
jersey seems to have taken the lead in
this important movement by adopting
a general road law permitting counties
to issue bonds, with certain limitations
to pay for macadamizlng public roads,
and many of the counties have gone to
work. in earnest, to make good, mac
adamized public roads. These, with
but little repair, will-last for ages, but
we cannot attempt anything of this
kind at present. The expense would
he too great, but we ought to make
thoroughly gond, we'll drained, dirt
roads. THIS we can do. if we will only
try. OF course it will cost consider
able. but it will be of immense advan-
taee, and will greatly enhance the val
ne of onr farms hnt I want to say here.
MIR roads w II never be good under the
mesent system Of renairing them. The
gratuitous labor feature Of the law.
has proved in England and in tina
country where Yer tried, al utter fail
IRE. clialle ICE The champions of that
system to show ma single county in
the whole American Union where graz
tn t,us abt has produced good public
roads. No. they can't do il. hut lam
told Judge Gillet will rigidlY inforcp
the oil road law. I believe he will do
his duty. honestly and fearlessly, hnt
4 lie cannot accomplish. imrossimlities.
\ Cannte commanded tie tide to cease
ilylsipg. but .tba,irtaafiIiifig raves isarsaal +
not the voice of the mighty monarch; /,
Give Judge Gillet a good road law. and
l believe. In time, we will have good
roads, but he cannot create something
out of nothing. We cannot make gond
loads without proper labor saving ma
chimes. We must have road rows.
scrapes and l.eavy iron rnllrrs. With
these. two men and two teams will
make more and incomparably better
road in a day than one hundred men
will make with the spa e. shovel and
hoe. but we cannot use these labor.
saving machines with our gratnitoms
road labor. Ordinary farm hands wonl1
not know how tn use the machines.
Every body wants good roads, can we
have them by gratultoGs labor? The
history of England and our own expert
ence answer no. never. What are we
to do about itp Let us go IT, work like
progressive people and devise some
plan, ard TO This end 1 would suggest.
that meetings be held throughout
the county so that the PEOPLE may ex-
press their views in resolutions or petit
tions to the Legislature. a recent
writer in your paper, signing himself
Farmer criticised the Legislature, and
made the most extraordinary sugces-
tion that each farm keep the road that
ru!s across it in repair. a most lame
and impotent suggestion. This would
he in the nature of tax on certain
farms and the exemption If other farms
from taxation, and is plainly in conflict
with the first section of the tenth ar
ticle of the constitution of Virginia. J
do not blame our Legislators. How
can We expect them to devise law for
us, when we cannot agree upon any
law ourselvesY Farmer wants each
farm to keep the road that passes over
it in repair. want a road law that
looks to ultimately making good, hard.
well-drained and well graded roads with
the centers elevated to form water
shed and want this done by labor
saving machines worked ny hired labor,
and convict labor employed MS far as
practicable for ditching, grading &c.
But the first thing to he donei is to have
complete survey of all our public
roads and correct man made of them.
which>should be hung in the county
clerks office foT reference and then the
great central highway, through the
county should be put in thorough re-
pair, drained, graded and where ncces-
sary shellpd. The old system. if amend
ed and improved could stand until one
Ivy one we could thoroughly repair and
make COOL i'll the loals in the county,
and then they should be kent in repair
by labor saving machines and general
taxation. The gratuitous labor svs.
tem-disguise it as you may, is in the
nature of a head tax, and bel e in ex-
cess of the $3.50 capitation tax, (al-
lowed by the constitution.) is viola
tion of the fundamental law of the land.
1t is moreover, tax upon labor. and is
therefore oppressive, unjust and impol-
itic. Political economy teaches that
capital, not laUor. should bear the pub
lie burdens. UNo.
Mr.. ED1ToR.-The Chesapeake Ag.
ricultural Fair Association having had
two successful seasons, it is now our
desire to enter the Delaware and Mary.
land circuit. beginning the circuit at
Cape Charles. This will open our Fair
about the last week in August. or one
week prior to the opening of the regu-
lar circuit. Cape Charles is pre-emi-
nently the place for such an openlng,as
it will give the horsemen an opportun-
ity of getting in trim for the great
struggles of the campaign. Our Fair