Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-11
THE NEW ROAD PLAN. 4.

THE NEW ROAD PLAN.
The new road law, as outlined by the re-
port of the meeting of the Road Commission,
shows decided advance on the present state
of the road laws. If it were adopted in the
form outlined it would doubtless produce a
gradual improvement in the condition of the
roads. So far as it goes it is to be COM
mended and supported, although it does not
reach some points which are to be regarded
as very important in connection with road
reform.
The purpose of the bill, as outlined, is
very plainly to effect two cardinal purposes.
One is to reform the method in which farm
ers work out their taxes, while still permit
ting them to pay these taxes in labor. The
other is to offer a premium in the shape OF
State and county aid to townships which es-
tablish solid and permanent roadways. The
amendment in the first respect lies in re-
quiring them to furnish their labor at such
dates as the roadmasters may direct, and in
case they do not furnish the labor faithfully
and promptly in authorizing the hiring Of
labor and collection of the road tax in
money. This is something of an improve
ment, but it fails to develop the full meas
ure of reform possible in the system of work
ing, not by the day, but by the quantity of
work done.
Under the proposed system of State and
county aid the township road taxes would
amount to one-third of the work done in any
township. More than that proportion of
work will be such as can be done by the
quantity, such as the furnishing of broken
stone, the hauling of gravel or the movement
of earth for grading, all of which could be
done by the cubic yard. If the large amount
of such work that would be done under the
system, is left open to the farmers to do for
cash at set price per load or cubic yard,
the same object will be effected as if they
were permitted to work out their taxes in
that manner; but it is we'll worth while to
make some provision for either one or the
other, in the law.
The premium offered for the construction
of good township roads is that for every mile
of solid road built by a township two will be
built in the same township from general
taxation, one by the county and one by the
State. Considering that the largest share of
benefit from good roads comes to their i'm
mediate locality, this is a rather large
premium. 1t is not too much to stimulate
the beginning of good work; but sitter work
was fairly under way in each of the town.
ships Throughout the State, it might amount
to a very heavy draft on the State Treasury,
and should be subject to a reduction
OF the proportions in future. The bill ap-
pears from the summary to leave the loca-
tion of the improved roads to the township
authorities. This is questionable feature.
Merely local views might produce in a
township system of roads centering at
some point within the township without re-
gard for connection with the highways of
other townships. while the purpose for
which State and county aid should be
granted requires that it shall create sys-
TEN of connected county and State high
ways which should be located by no lower
body than the county authorities.
The proposed law very wisely alb stains
from any attempt to establish a hard and
for improved roads. That course might
lead TO the requirement of materials which
would be highly expensive in some local
tiles and unnecessary or unsuitable in
others. But in view of the liability of an
easy-going county engineer to approve
it would go into ruts within year or two,
and thus cause an expenditure of State
funds for something that is not secured, is
1t not possible to establish a practical test
of durability? Thus, if it were enacted
that if by township and county work Sec
ton of road, not less than three miles, is
constructed, and after two or three..years of
actual use it passes State inspection as
durable highway, would not the same OBJ
ject be attained with decided safeguard
against the danger of road work which
would be evanescent in its character?
The proposed plan makes no provision for
the employment of workhouse and convict
labor on road work. This is obviously in
Difference to prejudice that dates from the
days when the management of convict labor
was medieval and inhuman. Superintend-
ent Warmers practical experiments have
proved that such labor can be economically
employed, and there is no room for doubt
that intelligent regulations can make such
work beneficial to the prisoners by affording
them change of scene. and work for which
they can get return. Such a plan might
indeed, by proper management, make the
outside work assume the form of a reward
for good behavior.