The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-12-13
orr ROAD LAWS.

With tho exception OF those who profit by
the defective system Of laws under which our
roads are now constructed and repaired there
| il hardly person throughout this Common
wealth who is not deeply dissatisfied with our
| present road laws.
The fact that a number of counties have
obtained from tho Legislature special road
laws for themselves shows the effort 10 strug-
gle from under the present system, which is
conspicuous for its ineflciency in making
good roads and the opportunity it affords for
| shiftlcSsness and fraud.
| The general operation Of our road laws is
unbusinessike and unfair.
They really produce but little good and
tend to educate the people in the belief that
the public service demands the least amount
of activity and capacity. and that the public
Golfers are open 70 the plumber Of conscience
less officers.
/ Compulsory labor upon the roads, except
for crime. should be abolished. but every
man who is of nee to work upon tho road
| should be required to pay an annual road tax
| OF one dollar This should be collected as are
other taxes. This one dollar would represent
two days work at fifty cents per day, which IS
the fair average value of days work in the
country under the present road law. Every
one knows that seventy five cents is too much.
This special road poll-tax should be faug-
mented by property tax. and the fund so
accumulated should be administered through
ont tho county by some competent road en-
gineer appointed for the purpose by the
county court. Each magisterial district
should be sub-divided into road districts,
each in charge of some road overseer The
funds collected in zach magisteral district
should be spent within its own limits The
oyerseer Of each road district should be
authorized TO purchase for that district such
teams. carts and implements as the county
engineer should approve. and have them all
the time used by men hired by the month or
the year for continuous work upon the
roads. The efficiency of these men would
become enormously increased by practice.
and their effective work at tho time that 1t
might he required, directly and instantane-
ously under the control Of a man whose bust
ness it was 10 see what was necessary and TO
have it done promptly would, form striking
contrast with the present cumbersome, tedi-
Gus summoning of unwilling ard inefficient
men TO do work for which they had no apti-
tude. and under the control OF an overseer
who for the most part himself feels no interest
in his duty
The accounts should be audited under the
direction of the county court by commits
soners appointed for the purpose. Compare
sons could be made between the several dis
tricts as to the cost Of work, and this would
tend TO regulate any extravagances. Com
missioners of inspection for each magisterisl
district should be appointed each year TO go
over the roads and see what had been done,
and make recommendations.
The effect of some such system as this.
operated on business principles by men de-
voted TO the work, would in ten years time
make a notable change for the better in the
roads of this Commonwealth.
All of the details cannot be given here. but
the bold outline is shown. which though
somewhat revolutionary if once adopted
would be as great an advance upon the present
plan as a stage-cosch is upon an ox-cart or
macadamized turnpike upon g feather bed
lane.