Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-25
The Demand for Good Roads.

1
posed IL TO be.
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The Demand for Good Roads.
The letters in Sundays issue Of the DIS
PATCH from prominent gentlemen In differ
emit sections Of Virginia touching the pro.
biem Of securing good roads for the rural
districts show that that important subject
is still uppermost in the minds Of a number
Of the most philosophical men in the
Commonwealth. And from our exchanges
we learn that the same problem is engaging
the attention Of patriotic, far-seeing men IN
other States
II is no new thing with the DISPATCH to
advocate the improvement of the high
ways Of the old State. Bad roads have
always been one feature Of our rural
scenes. The people have always been in
favor OF good roads, but they have not by
any means been unanimous in favor OF
levying taxes to pay for establishing a
good road-system. The founder of this
paper was always ready to raise his voice
and employ his pen in the good work OF
trying to convince the taxpayers that IN
order 10 have good roads they must pay
for them. This latter is the only obstacle
which lies in the way of what we may
| term highway reform, and before thew can
remove it the advocates Of road improve
ment must cease to regard taxes LEVIED for
highway reform a. having been advocated
or levied by highway robbers.
Last Sundays issue Of the DISPATCH con-
tanned interesting letters on this subject
from Messrs. FRANK NoLAND, OF Hanover
county; A. J.. BAKER, of Orange. and IL.
w. L. HoLr. Of Mecklenburg. Mr.. NoLlND
says the DISPATCH can do the people no
better service than TO press this question
until the people are aroused to proper &C
ton, and that is, he thinks, what we have
Overwhelmingly. State control over the
highways. His letter shows that he has
studied the subject. We commend 1t to
our readers as worthy Of perusal.
Mr. BAKER says that If Virginia is TO
move forward she must have better high
WAYS. This is the only condition upon
which she can enter upon the new and
promising career which her sons feel that
she has before her if she will only be wise
enough to do what if is her duty to do, and
what she must do before she can realize
that bright future. MIR. BAKER would have
mhcadamized roads.
Mr. HoLT says that the condition OF our
road-system Cor no SYSTEM Is one OF the
most important subjects which can occupy
the attention of the State. it is, he says,
the all-absorbing topic discussed by the
press, and by the people in conversation
and by letter. He SAYS that we struck the
keynote to the situation when we declared
that If we want good roads we must make
up our minds to pay for them. Under
the present system we shall never have
good roads" But Sir. HON. does not agree
with us that State tax should be levied
10 pay for new road-system. He would
leave the matter TO the several counties.
He makes a good showing in behalf of the
system which he proposes. We cannot
think, however, that good roads will
ever be seen IN Virginia until
road-system shall have been adopt
ed; and there can DO no road-system
worthy of the name so long as each county
levies as small tax as possible, and works
the roads as little as possible. As well try
TO build railroads or establish TELEGRAPH
lines by calling upon each county to do It's
share of the work. As well leave the i'm
provements OF the streets of city to tho
wards respectively as to leave the improve
ment Of the states highways to the seve-
raj counties. Let us learn from the expe-
rience of others. The rich and populous
counties of Pennsylvania have tried in
vain from time immemorial to secure good
roads by local laws, and local improve
ments, and local taxes; and the people of
that State. if we may credit what we read
in our exchanges, are now as sadly in need
of highways as we are in Virginia,
and are beginning to understand that
local measures cannot remedy State
evils. The State must take the bull by the
horns The State must provide good roads,
and in order to this end must levy the
taxes which it will be necessary to lay be-
fore her highways can be made what they
ought TO be. If the work demanded by
the condition of things in Pennsylvania, or
Virginia, or any other State, is to be done
at oil IL will certainly cost less If done by
the State than il done by the several coun-
ties, and the money in either case is to
come out of the pockets of the people. 1t
has never been doomed either wise or
practicable to compel every county in Viz
giniA to pay its own criminal expenses. 1t
ought not to be deemed either wise or
practicable TO compel every county in Vir-
GINA to pay for its own roads. The insu-
persble objection to such system, or want
of system, is that under its operation good
roads viii never be provided for the people,
whereas the experience of few years IN
der o good State system would convince
the taxpayers that their new and excellent
roads had really cost them nothing. To
spend million of dollars year upon our
highways, If we spent it wisely, would be
TO add million or more of dollars annually
to the Value Of our lands This should be
kept before the people constantly.
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