Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-02-21
ROAD MAKING

Washington (Pa.) Letter to Pittsburgh Dispatch.
A farmers institute, held under the aug
pices of the Pennsylvania State Board OF
Agriculture, was convened in the Court
House at 1870 A. NJ. to-day Q5th) by Hon
John Mcdowell, the resident member OF
the Board The intention to-deyote the
whole of the day session to the discussion
of the road question was carried out.
The committee appointed by the West
ton, consisting of J ohm c. McNary, Julius
Clark, Hon. John G. Clark, James S. For
sythe and James B. Maxwell, presented a
recommendation as to u general road law.
1t provides for the election of three COun-
ty Road commissioners one of whom shall
be practical engineer. whose duty it shall
be to lay out all new roads or change the
location of old ones. locate bridges, award
damages, and perform all duties now re-
quired of viewers appointed by the court.
One shall be elected for a term of three
years, one for two years, and one for one
yesr, and at each succeeding election one
shall be chosen for three years. In case
of appeal from action of the Road Com
MISS Oners. the cause of complaint shall
be distinctly set before the court; and the
court at its discretion may instruct the
Road Commissioners, and direct review
of the same, and such review shall be final.
The Road Commissioners shall receive So
a day for time actually employed.
MACADAMIZED ROADS.
The township supervisors shall be elect
ed under the same conditions as above
1t shall be their duty to meet on the first
Monday of March succeeding their cleo
ton, Or as soon thereafter as may be
agreed upon, and proceed to levy tax
upon the property holders, on the basis of
valuation made by the assessors Of the
several townships of the Commonwealth,
for other taxes. not to exceed five mills on
each dollar OF valuation. It shall be the
duty Of the Board of Supervisors to divide
their townships into three equal districts,
or as near equal as is practical and each
one shall have management of one of said
districts, or they may select one of their
number to supervise the whole township,
or any part thereof. One-third of all the
taxes collected shall be used in macadam-
izing portions ofroad. The County Com
missiOnerS shall pay out of the treasury
Of the county 81 a rod for each rod of road
on which four perches of broken limestone
has been placed, but no payment shall be
made unless twenty consecutive rods or
more shall have been so macadamized.-
The township shall not be held for dam
ages unless the supervisors shall have re-
ceived three days notice that portion of
tie road is unsafe.
CASH TAXES.
In the discussion of the recommenda-
ton and of papers presented by Hon. J.
G.. Clark, Julius LeMOyne and J. C.. Nc
Nary, it was the universal expression that
road taxes should be paid in money. 1t
was also conceded that it was impractical
Bile to macadamize all the roads.
THE REVOLT AGAINST DOODLE.
From the Pittsburgh Dispatch,
One of the questions of public interest,
which is at present being discussed more
or less by various State Legislatures, is
that of reforming the ballot. That there
is a growing popular sentiment against
what is known as the Doodle method in
politics can not be gainsaid. That the
evil for which a remedy is sought is wide
spread none except the wilfully blind or
corrupt will deny. No section of the
country is altogether free from its con-
Influences while in some cities
and towns, and even in whole States it is
charged, ifn0t proven, that Doodle is king,
controlling appointments, appropriations,
and the administration of the
laws.
There is a class of politicians who are
not troubled by cOnsciences, who look on
bribery. forged returns and stolen offices
as excellent jokes, providing these prac-
tees succeed without bringing the orig
inators into unpleasant prominence. 1t
is to this class, as well as to bribe takers
and bribe givers, that legislators should
turn their attention, if they would frame
laws that are to be effective. In other
words, the punishment should be made to