The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-05-12
the GOOD ROADS MOVEMENT
suggestions ms to Methods Tor the I,,,,
ment OF IIighwuxs

suggestions ms tn Methods Tor the I,n,ro,
ment OF Iighwn,s
The Lewis county (Wash.N rn.f
ganizatlon committee makes l.s.
gestions in regard TO road con,i
and improvement:
First-The cost should be borne In pro,or
20 the benefits
Second Construction should be fro,, !,
towns out, and without intermission. '''
Third-The roadbcd should be Of such
ture as To permit OF heavy freighting ANA Nh,
travel the year round. II should hav, ~
rect course as possible aud avoid steeu ,.,a, ~
Fourth-Work should DO done only by e..
tract. excepting minor repairs.
Fifth-Primary supervision and const ruc,.
should be with county officials.
The first proposition is eminently II
and its publication is wei! timed VI
there are some farmers in Illinois ann
all other states who seem to think thu. /,
state plan Of road improvement inyolr
state taxation that must be born bvro,.
munities that reap little or no benefit r.,
the money spent on improvement =.
roads in sections distant from their ow,,
But there is no danger Of any such n.
justice being done.
The object of state Legislation slorl
be to enable such communities as desr,
to obtain better roads to raise capital
constructing them. either by direct a..
alton OF tho lands benefited by such co..
struction, or by the issue of state bon,
or by the issue Of county bonds ~
bonds, whether county or state. b,.
liens upon the lands benefited by the ii.
penditurc of the money derived from 4
sale of such bonds and upon no 9th
lands.
BY means Of county bonds thonsan
OF miles of mud roads in Ohio and !.
diana have been converted into rnaca,i.
amized or graveled highways, and thou.,
in every case of improvement there N.
a protesting minority yet the wisdom
the majority that voted for the issue,
bonds has been vindicated by time. IA.
many who were tho most bitter orp..
nents have become the stanchest adv.
Gates Of road taxation But it istal.
kept in mind that where the majority
Of inhabitants of roal district dom
want good roads no tax will be leyi
for the construction Of good roads. H..
cal option is the rule as to state or con-,
ty aid
The second proposition, that construc
ton should be from the towns OH.
may bo good. The object il to give III,
farmer easy access at all times Of y
year to the railway by which grain. ca
tie or other farm produce is shipped n
the village or town where he receiv
his mail and buys his household stu.
and sells his minor products, butte
eggs, poultry or the like. Good roads
have been built beginning from IT,
towns out" and by working from sor.,
point in the country toward the towii
or villages. and by beginning-undt.
separate contradiction opposite ends
of the projected road and working To-
ward the central point.
The third proposition needs no ARR.
ment in its support. A road that is IN:
constructed "of such material as VII
bear heavy freighting all the year roung
is not an improved road. Mud roaa,
will bear heavy freighting during p.
Of the year. "All the year round isl
essential part Of the condition Of e.
road. When the mud roads are GO
the farmer is blowing or reaping or h
ing his grain thrashed and has little
sure for hauling. The roads should
good in winter, when grain Otter
higher than just after harvest: W.,
cord wood brings high price at 4
stores; when the farmer has K
sure to haul logs to the mill or luinh3s
from it; when he ought to be able 4,
haul his implements to the blaclssniti
shop or to the foundry and have them
put in shape for the busy seasons 4.
spring and summer.
AS to the fourth proposition, much caa
be said for and agai,st it. Some very
excellent roads have been built upon t!.c
system Of working ont the taxi. G.,
the special tax for gravel or macadamizel
in such cases the work of each
team or man was required to be equal /,
that rendered when cash wages are paid
Letting the work by contract. however,
Is the plan most prevalent where good
roads have come to be the rule.
The fifth proposition is sound. Local
is the best. Tie county IL
ways has good engineer and surveyor
in its limits. Moreover, tho principle q
local self government is one that canno.
be too strenuously maintained. Each
locality should determine for itself
whether it desires good roads or il cor
ent with bad ones. All that the stat
should do is to enable the localitic, tia.
lesire good roads to raise the money
leedful for their construction. -Chicaso
inter Ocean.