The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-11
WHYNOT HAVE GOOD ROADS,?
Deductions from the Late Congress Re-
viewed-Is the Supervisor at Fault?
Valuable Suggestion to Mine for MetaliDg--
Line Of Division In the Legislaiure-Preju-
dices That Cropped Out in Debates.

Wherever road material is plenty. and the
farming land and its tillers are alike rich.
the roads are passably good, and the super
visor gives measurable satisfaction. The
delegates from such counties voted
against the proposition 10 abolish
the Office. With the assistance of
Providence and q rich population, carrying
with 10. per force. an overwhelming public
sentiment in favor of good roads. the
visor has no difficulty in so far accomplish
ing his duties as to put the roads In his
district on the safe side of complaint. In
such counties there are usually bright, act
I'VE township trustees. who are quick 10
feel the weight of public opinion, and Will
help the supervisors all he can. and that Is
considerable. The few th~oroughfare pixies
are kept in repair. and the population
rides content, because more extensive i'm
provements will mean the expenditure of q
large amount of money. which even the
rich do not like TO contribute as taxes
But IN the county having no road met
aling." and q large number OF people who
get along some way and hardly know how.
the supervisor Is a different fellow. lie has
few resources for building roads. and the
most of the inhabitants are used to the
mud When IL comes 10 requiring his con-
srituents to work out their road tax he
finds it vastly easier 10 take a promise Tor
the performance. He knows, If intelli-
gent. that nothing within his official power
can make the Improvement permanent, aud
the realization instills it's chilling intiu-
ence IN the work done. Ruts are filled up
with loads OF DIRT OF clay. chuck-holes are
filled so as to present a smooth appearance
to the eye. the pillow makes a ditch on
either SIDE, and the earth Is thrown
upon the grade. So long as the weather IS
tru rho ranaIrad road IL 81 6allQhtlul one.
The supervisor draws his 500 or there
about for the years work. and there Is no
complaint 1t is only during seasons of bad
weather that he 10 roundly abused and de-
nounced by those of his constituents who
hate mud and cannot overcome the aver
sion. liz was of such q class of farmers that
the delegates from such counties were COM
p ossq nrey H saa wa NO s soJa %0I ap oft offic spG
leech. who did nothing for his pay. and
who played to please the Indifferent c1ti-
zens who wouldn't work. just as any other
demagogoe or self-seeking politician would
do. Ir was by the votes OF these delegates.
assisted by the few business-mlnded man
ufacturers. merchants, lawyers and
civil engineers present, that q declaration
against the supervisor was carried. If the
Legislature considers y bill to abolish his
Office IL favor of = systematized county
con troll of road-uiaklng and road improve
ment. the supervisor VIII divide the states
men upon the line which divided the con-
klCtr. NtnDlG Ito u nVtAAn W w w hlohO
good roads he is IN favor. and where he can
do nothing for lack of material he il a lit
tie lime serving politician. seeking re-elec-
ton, in the minds of the progressive citi-
zens In his district.
Indiana presents in her topography con-
ditlons that make OF unmake the super
visor in public opinion. The delegates
from Wayne and Allen counties defended
the supervisor. The material for good
roads is plenty in such counties as these.
The delegates from Switzerland, Ohio,
FLOYD and other counties on the southern
border had little use for him. But what
as that described by Mr.. Dor
rell, of Switzerland oountyf Plot
uro q country funeral In Ohio coun-
", adjoining Switzerland. 1t passes
along q road In O February thaw. Four
horses are drawing the rickety. seedy look
ing hearse. whose varnIsh has been eroded
by contact with mud. The road is simply
q long. deep bed of mueky clay. which,
under the strong wind. has stiffened and
stalled the double team. Ii Is dangerous
to stop. for the animals will mire. The
hearse 10 hub deep IN the muck. The only
indifferent form IN the procession Is the
one silently riding in the hearse. Another
team is hitched on by men tioundering
in the mud, and the hearse moves again.
This 10 not an unusual occurrence, It was
declared by delegates. In southern Indiana.
What pity or sympathy could the super
visor. as che closest official responsible
person. expect at such q timef 1t matters
not that he Is not to blame-that his
powers and financial resources are limited.
that his constituents shirk the several
days work with which they pay their tax.
Only a law dealing with the road sltua-
ton in q large way, with q business head.
could accomplish anything for such roads.
and only then by the expenditure OF con-
siderable money.
Time and again it was expressed in the
congress by wiseacre delegates that the
present laws are all right if they are en-
.<aa IaAA 81 IN oEn0 a rEAan
whose only reason for existence was q bad
condition of roads. the argument was a
plain begging of the question. The whole
trouble arises because IN the larger part of
NOS be enforced. and Yet they
provide for road revenues amounting
TO certainly over 5000. 900. and perhaps
over S3.CO0.O 600. The testimony from most
of the delegates was that n~lue-tenths of
this enormous expenditure is absolutely
wasted in temporary improvements. The
fact was reiterated that this amount of
money would build LOCO miles yearly. OF
scientifically and soundly built highway.
IL ten years this would revolutionize the
road system of the State. Such an ac-
compllshment lies within the limit of the
present taxation, and involves merely an
honest. business-Iike and judicious expendl-
ture OF money now practically wasted.
This was brought out strongly before the
congress and nearly every body understood
It. except the professional farmers like
hOOlHsOu-
The prejudice against an extension of the
number of offices was another marked feat
ure of the congress-. Being a prejudice and
not q principle. 1t was like talking against
q gale TO favor q State system radiatlng to
every county with the vlgor OF the best
knowledge and the best resources of the
whole State. The system finally approved
and Incorporated in the report excited this
prejud ce with binding effect. Many dele
gates could not see that whore it created
D few new officials IL abolished an
army CT officials known as supervisors. 1t
was estimated that each supervisor re-
ceived 800 q year on the average. In such
n county as Wabash. where there are fifty
supervisors, this 9 xpense would amount 20
$500, which would more than pay the
seven county and township Supervisors
provided for in the system approved. This
plan merely carries ont the idea so often
urged by the delegates. OF a better applica-
tion of the funds raised for road purposes.
Nothing was more strongly developed by
the congress than that it VIII beexceeding-
ly hard TO enact q law which Will answer
this needs in ell parts of the State. From
the lake country of the north end. to the
hills of the south-end. there is nearly every
variation of soil and road resources. The
Legislature. it would seem. will have to
make provisions which cannot be general.
While the law must be general. some Sec
tions must be worded so as generally to ap-
ply where the conditions are such as they
are in southern Indiana, and others where
they may apply TO conditions in northern
Indiana
A surprising amount of opposition TO new
legislation cropped out in delegates from
nR0anAEana annngaAa uuhAra eFAnn rnnda m Fa