The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-12-04
OLE COUNTRY ROADS.

The Governor alluded at considerable
lenght in his message TO tho subject of country
| roads. and made number of suggestions TO
the Legislature. which will, no doubt. receive
| the careful attention of that body. "a this Is q
subject OF very decided interest throughout
the State. In fact. good roads are OF vital
necessity. since without them no decided i'm
provement in tho condition Of our farmers
can be expected No matter how fine farm
a man may own. nor how elegant home he
may have upon it. if. by bad and impossible
roads. he is cut of from in tercourse with the
outside world. he is in no better condition
than il be lived in wilderness
Al the last meeting Of the Tuckahoe Farm
ers' Club this subject was quite exhaustively
discussed and finally committee was ap-
pointed TO frame bill TO be presented 70 the
Legislature. empowering the supervisors OF
Henrico to raise money by the issue OF bonds
for tho improvement of the roads OF that
county under tho direction and supervision
OF the supervisors themselves. The question
of including other counties in the bill was
also discussed. but it was finally decided that
il would be best not to do 30. but to give Hen
rico q chance. and whatever good was accom-
plished there could be an example for other
counties TO follow.
The subject Of general rood law. Of the
same character as the proposed Henrico
law, was also considered. and the main
objection urged against it was that
in counties under Republican rule the
sums raised by tho issue OF bonds might
be squandered and misapplied. This object
ton. however, the Governor seeIns TO meet
very conclusiyely. lie suggests that the
board of supervisors if the people of the
country wish it, be allowed TO borrow money
to improve the roads Of their counties, bnt
the laws should be carefully guarded so as to
prevent injudicious borrowing and expendi-
lures OF money. and unreasonably taxing the
people to meet the interest, and in due time
TO pay of the principal. He advises that
when the order TO raise money for the pur-
pose is made by the supervisors an appeal be
allowed to the Judge of the county on the
petition Of twenty-five freehoidcrs. and that
he shall have the power TO restrain the super
visors in part or in whole from further pro-
ceedings in this behalf, if in his judgment
the expenditure is unwise and unwaTranted
by the demand for the improvement Of the
roads
This seems to fully answer the objections
urged, andif the Legislature will frame wise
and careful general law regarding our country
roads they will confer an incalculable benefit
on the Commonwealth Certainly there can
be no advance in our lands. nor can we expect
anything like good and useful immigration to
the State unless our waste places can be made
available by being placed in easy access to
our centres of trade and commerce. And
while the first outlay for good roads would
necessarily be very great and perhaps years
would be required TO put them in frst-class
condition. yet once made. the expense Of
keeping them up would be very light, while
the advance in property would more than pay
a handsome profit on the original investment