The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-28
COUNTY ROADS.


The local Importance of the subject
discussed at the Commercial Association
rooms last evening cannot DO overesti-
mated.
Good roads are as much necessity to
community as good buildings or pros
porous enterprises. A country without
good roads is merely desert. The
strong arguments presented at the As
ISOLATION rooms for the improvement of
the county roads around Roanoke should
stir up the people of Roanoke county
and city to realizing sense of the en-
tire inadequacy of their present high
ways.
The trade of wonderfully fertile
farming section over q radius of twenty
miles centers at Roanoke, and yet not
a single highway leading out of Roam
oke is even in second-rate condition.
The expenditure of comparatively few
thousand dollars would double the road
capacity of every farming wagon coming
into Roanoke. Instead of hauling
ton of hay ten miles with four mules
in half a day, the same load ought to
be easily hauled by two mules in not
over four hours.
The equasions are self evident. The
value OF every farm ten miles from
Roanoke would be practically doubled
by the construction of good macad-
amized road from Roanoke to that farm.
The Advantages of such good roads
would be reflected in many ways. AS
pointed OUT at the meeting last night,
many products not raised would be-
come staple articles in this section If
there were good highways for convey
ing them to market.
The action of the Association in an
pointing committee to formulate q
practical plan for improving tho coun-
try roads attests the thorough public
spirit which actuates that Association.
It is TO be hoped that the committee
will report at an early date, and that
the public will follow up that report
with vigorous action.
cultural Association comes an interest
ing report of the meeting of the execu-
tive board of the State bourd of agri-
culture in Richmond Monday night.
The most important matter discussed
was the condition of the public roads OF
Virginia. Mr.. Orris A. Browne sub
mitted plan for improving the high
ways Of the State. In substance 1t was
as follows:
First. that the State be divided into
300 road precincts by proper divisions
of-the counties; second, that the gov
ernor shall appoint roadman in each
precinct, who shall receive $500 year
and shall be furnished by the State
with farmers level and necessary
equipment; third, that the governor
shall appoint one road engineer TO,
zach thirty road precincts. who shall re
4 ceiye each $1,000 per annum and travel
ing expenses limited to 5000 per annum
fourth, that the State shall levy a ia,
8 OF five cents on every S1OO worth O
PhoPcHCy ANU pay inc expenses OF Tho
road engineer and roadman.
Fifth. In order that any county ma,
have the services of the engineers ant
roadmen, the supervisors OF the count,
shall levy and collect tax of 10 cent
on tho one hundred dollars worth o
property and capitation tax OF S,
{ cents on every inalo person over twenty
ono years old annually, tho same to b,
used In furnishing labor, machinery
teams, tools and other ncces saries, ~
the supervisors may direct, under tn,
management of the road engineer.
Sixth. The supervisors In any count,
OF the State may, in their discretion
levy a further annual tax of one dolia