The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1889-06-13
GOOD ROADS ann WHAT WIN Nnnp.

generally corresponding 10 the degree
Of civilization OF tho country where
they arc situated.
This statement may have held good
NJ a certain period OF the WOTld's his
tory, nut 10 not supported by the facts
40 they exist NJ the present tlmei but
II must DO admitted, however, that In
this class OF public works, our country
would suffer by comparison with
almost any foreign, first class nation, or
IN fact with any European nation, The
great roads OF Europe, enormously
expensive, which arc quoted 10 uh aa
evidence OF their high stage OF elylllaa'
ton were IN many cases, no doubt, CON
atruCted under conditions which do
not now eXlht IN this enlightened age,
IN either this country or Europe, They
were built In some instances ~ mOnu'
ments 10 perpetuate tho names of the
bulderBi III others certainly aB military
and commercial necessities, aud cen
turtles In advance OF tho introduction OF
steam, which has 80 feYOlutlOnl26d
land transportation In all civilized cOun'
tries, The National road from lialtl
more via Wheeling and across Ohio ~
tho Appian Way of this country, and
Nas projected and ita G0natruOtl0n be-
gan possibly under similar clrcum'
stances OF military and commercial fe'
qulrementa, but with manileatly better
engineering talent than WAS employed
un that old Roman thoroughlare 1000
yelrH ago,
The Rational road nj the time Of ita
location and construction, was the
greateat public work undertaken by tho
Government,
lJisan impeTlahable monument 70
lta promoters, OF whom Henry Clay Is
accredited with being principal and who
succeeded In having ms views adopted
aa 70 ita general location, Many hlml'
lar roads were projected, and NUM-
Der OF branches 10 tho National road
Duit following the completion Of the
main line, The rapid introduction Of
steam railrOada soon after seemed TO
check the further construction OF per
mpnent highwaya-and the Importance
OF sustaining public TOada In q GOndl'
,ion which thelr value 10 the public de-
manded-appears TO have been unHp
preclated and for many years the Ays'
rla, Qf system II can be called has not
K pt pace In ita methods with other
bOrk8 OF like nature,
The present system Of caring for the
public highways In this State, is one IN
which there has been less improvement
| lu the method Of llg operation, than m
my other of the public usca 10 which
public money IN devoted, The neCea'
lltY Of legislation 10 bring about Il
more practical, thorough aud efficient
ay ucm of improving ard maintaining
publlcr0Ndg, 10 evidenced by the increaa'
Gd interest shown during the past two
years; IN part by the Legislature NJ its
layt session, aud by farmers Institutes
boards Of Improvement and engineer
Ing societies,
This movement 10 not confined Ia
ONO alone, Adjoining States have
hggun the serious consideration OF this
subject, Gov. Beaver Of Pennsylvania
10 uls message TO the last Legislature
nred the necessity of legislation pro.
VI ding for u better system Of improy'
Ing pubic roads
runters ink has been actively en-
plOyed In agltatlng and creating such
ui lulerest, that from the many views
dyanced Of what should be done, and
from broad discussion of the matter
something might be- formulated, which
would comprise the substance Of new
rnan laws.
The Ohio Legislature, Rt It's last ses,
ION, devoted nm unusual amount of
lime to tho consideration OF the bill
known as the "lryon' road bill
This bill, although not becoming a
law, was 10 some extent nm improve
ment on others OF the kind, yet Withal
WIS open TO the same criticism as may
Ue directed 10 the present law; notably
0uc time fixed for working tue roads
ut the provision for letting the work
Vt repairs by contract
A general review Of the bill may be
ummed up by saying that most of the
Objectionable features of the present
'aw IRE retained; that II docs not con.
template such radical changes as the
necessity of the case would require
aud that IL was intended to be opera
tive only IN such counties 10 elected to
aduptlt.
Ine public feeling In the matter OF
occurring better roads was no doubt
augmented by the unusual amount OF
wet weather prevailing during the last
hrte mouths of 1883 and continuing
through the following winter, render.
uR the ordinary roads well.nigh i'm.
pgssible.
This condition OF the roads, and the
consequent cost aud delay entaied on
tll those whose ay0cation made 10 nee
-asaly 70 use the same to some extent
affected no interest 30 seriously as the
,nrming interest, and TO that interest
his question addresses itself. Shall
hiH state Of affairs COntinue2 From
he farming interest should come a
strong demand for the necessary action
at The hands Of the next Legislature as
%iOl remedy tho existing defective
methods.
IL is conceded on all sides that q
D large amount Of money In the uggre
gate Is expended annually upon the
public highways; that scarcely any IL
or permnnenCe, save only for masonry
md similar structures; that as the yeal
oIlS around and spring puts In an ap
ptarauce after n winter of mud and
snow, we are confronted with the same
roads In the same condition as Il twelve
month ago. 1t is scarcely prob
able that u lgnd owner or tax
payer would oppose an increase
ot their tax II thereby good roads
could be obtained and also permanent
o degree which does not now exist
and on which in u few years the cost oI
ordinary repairs would be less thar
they now are; or much less oppose the
enactment Of law organizing the road
system TO give better roads even at the
same cost as now. II is barely neces
5ary to review the present method OF
caring for our roads; however us di.
rect comparison with other plans, II
may, with some show of propriety be
described. The present law provides
for working out the 1.-TWO day" tax as
well as the road tax assessed ii any. In