The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-12-22
rIELp's SUNDAY IN JAIL.
County Control of Road Funds and Brond
Tread Vehicles Needed.

Editor Times
The people seem fully aroused TO the ne
cessi.y Of good roads. therefore 1t il no
necessary TO argue the advantages OF having
| good roads. but the ways aud means Of oh.
I tanning and keeping them up % a standard.
To obtain good roads - x very simple matter,
and ia most localities can lie made at q cost
| which would not be materially felt. 1t is as
| tOnishing the amount OF work that can la
| done on the roads in year even with only
| one pair Of mules but with six or eight mules.
| road-scrapers plOws, scoops, DC, for each
! nagisieral district of the county. ia five years
| there need not be- what we now call "a bad
road IN the county. Under our system no
supervisor has ever yet been found who could
control the road fund
Henric0 county must own her own teams
II light loads are g. be hauled her teams must
get the benefit of it. Every man who makes
contract does so with the view of making
10y u. and If DO finds that he has taken the
job too low 1t is only human for him to look
around for short cuts.
But all tic money IN the country will not
Keep the roads good If we are forever and
eternally 10 have narrow tread wagons.
Nothing are more antagOnistic than good roads
and narrow tires. All progressive men see
this and know that while the first cost is
slightly more than for narrow tires they are
cheaper by far IN the long run. The tires do
not need cutting so often. they do not wear
as last they pull easier. and fifty broad tread
your inches or over wagons will not do as
much damage TO the road as one narrow
tread wagon.
Doubtless many of our legislators have
found these facts ont for themselves But
where IS there one who has the nerve 10 get
up and say this is so and we must tax the
narrow tread ont If existence when he knows
that he has got % 60 back home and ask the
u IN frfl B. I 4
bis father IL good enough for him TO vote for
him: Look over the world aud you will not
ma section with good roads where the nar-
row tfeads predOmiuates / would suggest
That all wagons or carts with tread of less
than four inches be made TO pay a special tax
Of 81 the first year, y tho second year. % the
third year. "a the fourth year - tie fifth
year and theTeatteI the money so collected 10
be used on the r0nds All pleasure vehicles
shai De required 10 have pIopOrtiOnAtely
broad tire.
would tax carts os much az ! would
wagons because they do the roads even more
INJURY. Al the end Of the fifth wear there
would 10 comparatvey few naIrow-tfead
wagons and We would have good roads
W ME have much % learn. have given /
ms matter great deal of thought and study. /
lrst as private citizen second a. q road |
)yerseer and third as member of the board t
)t supervisors. and at all times having 10 /
rarel bad roads. II Is better TO have broad
read wagons and dirt roads than narrow
read wagons and grayeled roads.
individuals cannot adopt broad tread
wagons. because they would haye t. break
he track at ~ times therefore the broad
read can only become general by legislation
10 is better TO have the credit Of having
epoa o. give my State good roads THAI even
o DO a member of the Legislature.
with the assurance that II is impossible 10
ave good roads by making them one day
nd ploughing them up the next with narrow
read wagons, AIN yours. truly.
W. T. GRANr.