Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-11-27
Our County Roads.
THE PREVAILING SYSTEM.


get good roads by tho prevalent plan of
working out road taxes. In most of the
States The law IS that all property out
side of the cities and incorporated towns,
shall be taxed for road purposes that
the taxpayers can work these taxes out
on the roads that al between certain
ages shall, in addition to their property
tax, be required to work so many days
each year on the public highways. This
is the way to have bad roads Because
but very small sum is paid in money,
as each taxpayer finds that he can employ
a cheap hand at from two-thirds or three
fourths what is allowed by law for a days
work. This is, therefore, the cheapest
and easiest way to pay his road tax.
Moreover, these hired haLds as substi-
tutes tor the taxpayers and the farmers,
who are required to work so many days
on the roads, make q regular frolic
of the business. They attend to all
their necessary work at home before they
90 on the roads; and, after they assemble,
they talk politics and crack jokes, and
tell vans, and occasionally throw a few
shovels of DIRT by way of pastime. The
remark is often made by the best Over
seers of the road, that with one dollar in
money they can accomplish more than
with two dolllrs IN taxes worked out.
Even ordinarily honest men consider the
public either a ghost or an enemy, whom
to cheat is not only fair but smart.
Again, the making of a road requires
skill as we'll as industry. Even if the
road overseer has been wisely chosen and
is an adept at the business; the hands
that are under him in this democratic
country think they know as much or
more than he does and, as he is not their
paymaster, they feel no sense of subo din
alton to him. AS a result the work ers
constitute company, where every man
is a boss or captain.
Still again, the time to work the roads
is in the spring or early summer, so that
they may become smooth and bard by
the time winter sets in. This season is
busy one with the farmers, and it does
not suit them to leave their ploughing or
harvest to 90 upon the roads. Conse-
quently the work is put off until the fall,
and frequently does as much harm as
good from the soft condition of the roads
when the bad weather begins.
For all these reasons we need not be
surprised to observe that. where this sys-
tenn prevails, good roads are the exception
rather than the rule.
TIE CONTRACT SYSTEM.
Under this plan, the working of the
roads are let to contract; the taxes are
collected altogether in money, and the
contractor is under bond to keep the
road in good condition. There are sey
eral advantages in this system. 1st 1t
gives opportunities t. those who under
stand road-makiDg to make business
Of it. Suppose the making of wagons,
the grinding of wheat, the practice OF
medicine were given uD to Tom, Dick OF
Harry to any one who might choose to
do any of these things, without any
special preparation or skill, what would
be the RESULT So we need n class of men
who study and practice and become ex-
pert in road-making.
2nd Ii makes it the interest of the
contractor that every hand employ
ed shall give his full time to the work,
and do it in the best way possible. The
making of good roads become tho con-
tractors private business, and lie re-
quires those whom he employs to give
him a fair equivalent for their wages.
He learns how to direct them, what is a
days work, and be is personally interest
ed that the hands be kept busy, as their
pay comes ont of bis pocket
Bird. The work under this plan can be
done at the best season of the ear as il
can and should be made a part of the
contract that this shall he the case.
The objections to the contract plan are
That the road taxes are to be paid alto.
gether in money, ana to many farmers this
is said to be hardship. 1t may 10 re-
plied, the improvement of the roads I'M
der this system will make 1t easy fol
them to pay the taxes; and in many
cases they can make the money needeC
for their taxes by hiring to the contrac
tor.
2nd. That there are many persons Inv
ing in the country who would not in an!
way be secured. These are nontaxpay
= ers. With regard to this, it is at least {
partial offset, that those persons have NJ
Il property to be taxed aud may, therefor G
D. be excused from bearing any part of thu
8 burden of road making. If this is no
u satisfactory, it might still be part Of tn
e law, that the contractors should have tn
benefit of so many days labor from al
u able bodied males in his district In thI
Q way, their work would count so much il
the making of the contract.
3rd. That there is a practical Difficult
u ty IN fixing the standard of a good road
Il which the contractor should DO reqnire
" to keep the year round. This is probabl
The weakest point in the contract system
Il whose efficient working would Deepen
! largely upon securing honest and skille
10 contractors, and such Supervisors a
wonld intelligently and resolutely hol
20 them to strict compliance with the
VI contract.-LeriHgton Gazette.
= Onions for Dlphtheria,
~ "Why don't they use onions! For goot
' ness sake, why don't they use onion