The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-08-09

Avery important session OF the Penn.
sylvania State Road Commission was
held Thursday, at which some papers
were read and discussed which were full
Of valuable suggestions. They embodied
tho vicws OF practical road builders and
are worthy OF wide circulation. The
question OF better country roads in West
Virginia should not be forgotten in this
political year, and now is the time to
sound candidates for the Legislature
upon n matter which is Of the utmost
Importance TO the farmers. At the
Pennsylvania meeting referred to, above
Mr.. James 3. Powell, referring 10 the
poor system Of roads in Pennsylvania,
spoke rs follows, much, Of which can be
appreciated by West Virginia people: d
Poor roads are compelling farmers to give up
agriculture and 20 to the largo cities and towns.
Une,thiid IL every year u farmer IN rcnukyl
van!a is bound up at his home with ihud. II your
Commission eommcnds any rad cal change the
farmers will BIZ scared by the prospect Of In.
roads. Ohio has five pixies costing only from
sl,0JO to Sl2,tW. II has been said your commits.
sion thinks of having stone roads made. VIII
your p,C0O mites OF road IN Pennsylvania l con.
slder That an impracticable scheme. Erie county
with its fine gravel aud s~and-whst need has sac
for stone? You should study the demands oil
localities. Some roAos that are much Travelled,
like those In the neighbOrnOOd Of u town, should
be improved at u cpst OF about $500 pc, mile.
Other roads ought not 10 be at more than $50
per mile.
Every road In the county ought to be named
or numbered 20 that 4 stranger may know where
he Is; As soon US practicable all road lake,
should be paid In cash. Educate the people M
to this. Show them POOR roads dppress the
value OF their farms, and that as long as men
work out Their taxes It Is impossible to have
good r0aHs.
iavor State aid for road improvements be.
cause towns arc increasing la population and
they would pay much OF the lsx.
Another member Of the commission
said: ..ef Iras
would like 10 see ali rold taxes paid in
money. State aid Is needed TO make roads good.
The state Is great and eau afford. Each county
should appoint commissioners, and money
should be distributed according TO road mileage
l think convict labor Oh roads would be u good
thing. To see criminals with u ball and chalu
attached. working on the public roads, would be
a very wholesouc lesson 10 young people which
"obANA LS IA AN ~ u EEuOu llht uO OkueI
mode OF punishment would convey.
Among the practical suggestions made
ut the meeting was that OF Col. J.J. Car.
ter. He favored the establishment OF a
Bureau Of State Roads, to be. connected
with the executive department OF the
State government and presided o7er by
a State Engineer or Surveyor General,
TO be appointed by the Governor. He
also favors a road supervisor for each
county, to be elected by the people at the
same time and for the same period as
members OF the Assembly are elected
no n to be eligible unless an educated
and professional engineer. Also a board
Of road oyerseers for each township,
borough or city, not less than three nor
more than five, to be elected by popular
vote on the plan OF minority. representa-
ton, in each district; the supervisors to
appoint a road master, who shall be an
engineer by practice, for each district.
The meeting developed a strong senti-
ment in favor Of abolishing the system
Of working out tho road tax, as M un-
satisfactory method, and the substitu.
ton Of the elaborate scheme proposed
by Colonel. Carter.
The 1NTELLIGESCER would hesitate be.
fore advocating anything whicA would
prove .burdensome to the Taxpayers,
and believes that some system could be
adopted which would be reasonably
economical while securing the better
roads so badly needed in West Virginia.
Colonel Carter's plan would be better
adapted to Pennsylvania because that
State has the wealth to carry it out,
In the meantime'le the next Legisla.
ture do Us the Pennsylvania Assembly
has done-appoint a road commission to
inquire how the highways Of the State
can be improved, ascertain the wishes Of
the people and report tho same to the
Legislature.
Deafness Can't DO Cured