Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-04
Shortcomings Of Road Ofllcers.
CHATHAM. Va, February /. 1S9
To he Editor ofhe Dispatch

To he Editor ofHe Dispd'ch:
That the roads in Virginia are in such
bad condition is not the fault of existing
laws. which are full and stringent upon
the subject. and provide amply for keeping
all the public roads of the Commonwealth
in order. But the trouble Is in enforcing
these laws, and that IS the point TO which
think the Legislature should direct Its
attention.
When a road oyerseer neglects bis duty
the only way under present laws to compel
MIN TO perform it Is by means of pre-
sentiment before the gland jury. But as
the person making this presentment Will
render himself obnoxious to the road over
seer, and be even considered by the COM
munity as an officious and meddlesome
man, the result is That presentments are
rarely made. Often the road overseer is an
influential person and no one cares TO IN
cur his displeasure in matter which 10 as
much one mans business as another's.
| know of an instance in which the
road oyerseer is also member of the
board of supervisors, and he has not
worked his road for nearly two years. 1t
is consequently almost impossible IN many
places even in seasons when roads are
generally good. Yet he has never been
presented before the grand jury and pro-
badly never will be. In ante bellum DAYS
the attorneys for the Commonwealth
charged the grand juries and always IN
sisted upon rigid enforcement of the road
laws, and the roads were then, as q general
rule. well worked. Those were the days of
yirginia's wealth and prosperity in the
country. But we have in those Inter days
departed far from the habits and practices
of our fathers. and IN nearly every case IN
country affairs for the worse. Soon after
the war the road laws were changed and
the contract system was introduced. but
this, after two years trial. was found so en-
tirely impracticable that the old road
laws were restored, and soon after
wards there was O marked improvement
in the condition of country roads. But
the laws were less and less rigidly enforced
as time passed until now they are almost
a dead letter. 1t has been said that the
State is unable to bear the tax for work
ing the roads and that the counties should
be taxed foI the purpose. But there IS no
difference between taxation by the State
and by the counties which compose the
State in the burdens imposed on the peo-
pie. In fact, county taxation has general
ly been found to be more onerous than
State taxation, as there Is greater respon-
sibillty and publicity connected with state
affairs. and State officials are generally
more intelligent fnanciers and less lnriu-
enced by private interests than the gentle
men who constitute most or the county
boards of supervisors. This has been OBJ
served IN the conduct of some boards since
the Legislature deprived the county
Judges of jurisdiction over the subject of
county bridges and conferred 1t upon the
supervisors. This was q move In the
wrong direction and introduced kind OF
log-rolling system into many OF the boards
of supervisors, so that some counties have
al IN rnnQh nQaiQaQ aYnangp
in building bridges where they were not
needed, and where there never had been
any before, even in the days OF prosperity
and wealth. One member would demand
a bridge for his neighbornood and the de-
mand would be granted by the other mem
bers in consideration of return OF the
favor, and SO on.
IL the Legislature could devise some
means of enforcing the laws We now have
theroads would be sufficiently well worked
without imposing additional burdens upon
our people, already over-taxed. But II Is
said that good roads Will bring immigra-
ton into the country, and thus land-own-
ers and taxpayers would get back the
money paid out by them in constructing
and improving public highways. This IS
merely speculative, and IS like building
towns by booms. Good roads. 1t IS true,
often furnish evidence Of thickly-popu-
lated and prosperous country because
they generally follow as q result OF pros
perity and o dense population. But II
would be reversal of the proper order
en- attempt to substitute effect for cause
to burden a poor and thinly- populated
country with heavy taxes in order TO build
good roads as an inducement to capital
and population. II would be IA efort TO
furnish strangers with false evidence Of
prosperity. Let, then, the Legislature de-
wise. if possible, some means of efectuslly
enforcing existing laws and of relieving
the burdens Of the people instead OF in
creasing them. The evil lies not IN the
laws, but in their executIon-not IN the
ID. IL pkNNII.