The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-07

lose corstrlicfion that some Of our mod
ern Statesmen do. that whatever ~
necessary" tan be done under the cen
eraI Welfare clause OF the Constitution
but IL cannot he said that these roads
| are necessary for the United states az
though they may be Lccessary lor INC
good of some OF the counties In tnIs
State.
can the state build ITEM? No. because
| the State Constitution gives ~ poWe'
10 the Legislature TO make expenditures
for this purpose and declares that the
| State shall not be a party TO or become
Interested in any work OF Internal I'M
rrovsmcnt. nor engo sc I'm carrying on any
such work. otherwise than In the dNpen-
djture OF grants 20 the State. Of iaAd
or ether property" (See Art. y. Sec
IL. Constitution Of Virginia, Code OK
Virginia, p. 40
The Counties Must Build Them.
The only way possible is for each coun-
| " to build it's own roads. and 10 build
| them In the way In which they can do
II at the least cost, and they should do
| this whenever their necessities demand II.
| Power should be given by the Legislature
20 the counties. with suitable restrictions,
I so that I'm moment of excitement they
may not be rushed madly into an expense
/ which they cannot bear. and thus en-
| barrass their credit by a debt too bur
/ densome for the people. Whenever II Is
| demonstrated that I'm those counties made
| accessible by good roads purchasers can
! be found fer real estate and farms, on
| which the owners are making money by
| cultiVating crops because of the advan-
! tages OF cheap. certain and accessible
market then will be learned valuable
lesson, which the most obtuse Will under
stand, and the most incredulous believe
Our people must be educated up TO ihis.
they must be made TO see and to leel
that every interest demands that The
county roads be improved. If this IS not
done, the county which ignores this fact
will certainly retrograde and will not
longer be the home Of a thrifty population
but will be left as an abode for the ignO-
rant and thriftless.
If your people are not ready for the
move, do not hinder the counties which
are. DO not endeavor to force counties. 10y
any general legislation, to tax themselves
10 undertake great enterprises of this
kind when they do not desire il: let
them learn by the experience Of those
who are willing to try IT, All The coun-
ties do not equally need a new system Of
roads; let those which need them most.
first commence the work. The rest ~
the State win in good time follow. and
then IT will not be long before the remote
places in the country will be opened and
the inaccessible farms become rich and val
liable by the industry and energy of the
people.
Each county must select the way best
suited for itself. and must make n lem
pcrary sacrifice, to DO this work. If a
county is not willing TO bear the ex-
pense. and district i'm the
county is let the burden be assumed in
that district This may. in the end, be
best. because it will bring the expense
nearer TO those who are assuming it, and
Will compel the contractors to he more
prompt i'm it's execution. and more eco
nomical I'm expenditures. To do this work.
you have under the law as IL now stands.
two days labor from all the men I'm the
county between the ages OF Is and 90
and a tax Of from five to fifteen cents on
the hundred dollars worth may be lev
led on all the property i'm the county.
The amount Of tax can be fixed according
to the necessity for improvement-greater
I'm some cases. and less in Others-because
Of the difficulties presented by the nature
If the ground, the value Of the property,
and the number of the pnulation.
Then small toll may be eXa ted from
al those who pass over the road. and
every newcomer and the increase i'm the
5aiue Of the land will serve to lessen the
burden, until at last the tolls collected
interest, and perhaps no read tax will be
roeded at all Make the calculation Of
how much you will be able to save I'm
year by being able TO market your
crops whenever you desire to do 80.
without regard to the weather. and thus
be able to utilize the days when you can
90 nothing at home on the !
farm, and what you will save
IN damage TO your conveyances. |
IL overlooking your teams. by pulling |
over the rough roads, and the advantages |
OF the market. and YOU will FIND tnat |
the amounts you have invested I'm rood |
roads will be the most satisfactory nnd |
the safest you have ever made.
How TO Bai-r III Money.
The counties and towns which desire TO /
do so should be allowed to issue bonds |
redeemable in thirty years The amount |
should be determined by the revenue |
derived from the road tax on property, |
and the tolls collected from those who |
travel over the roads, and il might be well |
10 put n small tax on all vehicles from
those who live contiguous TO the ini-
II owed roads or tolls should be required.
Ii has been asserted by competent
investigator that the average expendi-
ture for the past three years on the
county roads i'm Virginia has exceeded |
M10VO per annum In money, and over
S4V0VW per annum in statutory labor"
l do rot believe this estimate is extrava-
CANT. We have not less than 100000 per
sons who are required to give two DAYS
labor 10 the county roads. We had i'm lSg2
property valued for taxation a $3.50, 5S5, Az
The Code of Virginia, Sec 97S, p. 2SS
allows a levy for the purposes Of the
county roads of fifteen cents in the hund-
red dollars worth OF property Place the
value Of the labor at seventy-fve cents.
Which the statute fixes and the tax on
the property at fifteen cents, and you will
see that the estimate Of $4,000 is a low
one. This sum of $4,000 then. is the
available money we have for road
purpose every year, and 1t is sufficient 10
pay the interest on sum Of Sl2.500000
al six per cent. Divide II among the coun-
lies In proportion to population and wealth
ana what an enormous amount you will
nave Tor road Improvement Take any
county see by examining the Auditors
/ pofts the value OF your taxable proper
W ana calculate what fifteen cents i'm the
hundred dollars will amount TO. Then
take the census and see the number OF
persons between the ages Of eighteen and
sixty years; value their labor at seventy
hNe cents per day, for two DAYS every
year and you can ascertain what your
county can rely on 10 borrow money for
ROAD purposes. These facts show the
Feasibility OF permanent road improve
nent' II we Will utilize the resources We
nave by Intelligent management and
We can improve our roads without the
help OF the state or Federal governments
An Engineer.