Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-03-01
MCKINNEY, TEX, Feb. IS, 1890


To the Gazette.
In response TO your request l send
you some views entertained by me in
respect to county roads.
The act of the legislature of April 6,
1889, has provided probably as we'll as
can be, under our present system OF
labor and taxation, for the eficien;
working of the public highways. Here
tofore We have lost much that could have
| been accomplished because of a lack oil
| enforcing the road laws.
In addition to the present road en- act
ments the legislature has submit ed a
constitutional amendment to be voted
| upon at the next election.
Under the constitution as it now Is ,
only Is cents on the 500 valuation OF
property can be levied for roads and
bridges. By the proposed amsndme Mt l..
If adopted, any county, by the cousen I
OF a majority of its voters, who pay
taxes on property, can levy an addi-
tionRl tax of Is cents onthe SlOO valua =
ton. l believe this amendment should
be voted for 10y the people. If adopt ed !,
there are counties where i presume
there would be no necessity of levy ing
the additional tax, and there are others
where the necessity would exist to i'm
pose the full amount or part of it. In
any event the people of each county
could determine the question for them
selves.
In nd fn khn
the proposed amendment TO the consttu-
ton, ! think there should be a change in
the laws concerning theft. Prior to 1866
each theft, however small the value of
the article stolen, was a felony. The
legislature of that year Increased the
value of the article stolen in ordinary
cases of theft to $40 to make Il felony.
Not proposing to change the law OF theft
from the person, by burglary, or of
horses and cattle, I would suggest in
other cases to increase the value OF the
property stolen 10 $50, or other reason
able sum, before the offence should be
a felony, and for ordinary cases of theft
under such change let the offence be q
miBdemeauor and punishable as now pro-
vlded by i'm Lrisonment In the county jail
and fine, or both. ! believe such pun
ishment would he adequate, and at the
would materially aid in solving the road
problem. Such change would relieve
our stale prisons from short time convicts
aud heavy expenses in the way of trans
pOrtation, etc.
1t would be preferable. in my iudg-
ment, 10 working convicts from the peni-
Tertiary on the roads, aud save the ex-
pense OF transporting them from place to
place where they would be needed
County conYicts could be cared for at
less expense, with fewer escapes. in my
opinion, than can peuitentiary feons.
In addition TO the provisions of the
present road laws would suggest that
the counties have the power to appoint
county superintendent of roads-not to
be obligatory, but when deemed neces-
sary Such officer should have some en-
gineering ability, should be bonded and
have reasonable salary. If appointed
the necessity would not exist for the
commissioners authorized by the last leg
islature. All county property pertain
ing to roads and bridges should be under
his control and care, and be distributed
by him to commissioners or overseers-
these should be responsible to him for the
care of such property, aud he to the
county. The work on the roads should
be laid out under his direction and su-
perintendence, and all expenditures of
money should be directed by him under
the instructions OF the court, and hs
should report to the court from time to
time the conditions OF the roads, bridges
aud all affairs under his management,
the court to establish rules and regula-
tons controlling, as they are now
authorized TO do by law. In my judy
ment anv system to be efficient should
be under controlling and directing
head
II the amendment to the constitution 10 |
adopted, our increased convict labor |
added 10 the labor we already have with |
fair enforcement of the laws. believe In |
few years we can have excellent county |
roads; and when once properly prepared |
and put in good condition the taxes need |
not be kept up to the limit TO keep them |
in good repair
AS rule, would not favor the crea- |
ton OF a bonded debt for road purposes. |
There may he, and Doubtless are, eoun.
ties where the people would prefer the /
issue of bonds and the speedy completion
of the roads, but such localities | |
imagine are the exception, and not the
rule that should be adopted | think
such bonded Indebtedness should be
avoided il possible.
Ny OWL county (Collin) viii require as
much labor and expense perhaps as any
county in the state TO make good roads,
and there exists as great necessity for
them as anywhere else; and yet would
much prefer patient and steady effort.
with the means before mentioned, to the
creation of a large and long-continuous
bonded debt.
Ours is an entirely black, loan county,
nearly destitute OF durable rock material
OF even good gravel, still. I think, with
the aids above alluded 10, we can
throw up and grade eighteen feet road
beds, highsr In the middle. sloping to
the sides, by narrowing and sodding and
drmly pressing the roadbeds, with bitches
On each eide OF sufficient width aud depth.
secure and proper culyerts. aud sum !