The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-06-01
vantage.
1t is surprising what changes the
painters brush has made.
THE GOOD ROADS MOVEMENT. U

painters brush has made.
THE GOOD ROADS MOVEMENT. D
Suggestions as to Methods For the
Improvement of Highways.
The Lewis county wash road
organization committee makes these
suggestions in regard to road con-
struction and improvements:
First-The cost should be borne
in proportion to the benefits.
Second-Construction should be
from the towns out, and without in
PERMISSION.
Third-The roadbed should be of
such a nature as to permit of heavy
freighting and rapid travel the year
round. 1t should have as direct
course as possible and avoid steep
grades.
Fourth-Work should be done
only by contract, excepting minor
repairs.
Fifth-Primary supervision and
construction should be with county
officials.
The first proposition is eminently
just and its publication 3 well
timed, for there are some Mf7hers
in Illinois and in all other states
who seem to think that a state plan
of road improvement involves state
taxation that must be borne by
communities that reap little or no
benefit from the money spent on
provement of roads in sections
distant from their own. But there
is no danger of any such injustice
being done.
The object of state legislation
should be to enable such commun-
tiles as desire to obtain better roads
to raise capital for constructing
them, either by direct taxation of
the lands benefited by such con-
or by the issue of state
bonds, or by the issue of county
bonds. such bonds, whether county
or state, being liens upon the lands
benefited by the expenditure of the
money derived from the sale of such
bonds and upon no other lands.
BY means of county bonds thou
sands of miles of mud roads in Ohio
and Indiana have been converted
into macadamized or graveled high
ways, and though in every case of
there was a protesting
yet the wisdom of the ma
jority that voted for the issue of
bonds has been indicated by time,
and many who were the most bitter
opponents have become the stanch-
est advocates of "road taxation"
But it is to be kept in mind that
where the majority of inhabitants
of road district do not want good
roads no tax will be LEVIED for the
construction of good roads. Local
option is the rule as to state or
county aid.
The second proposition, that con-
should be "from the
towns OUT" may be good. The OBJ
ject is to give the farmer easy access
at all times of the year to the rail-
way by which grain, cattle or other
farm produce is shipped to the vii
lage or town-where he receives his
mail and buys his household stuff
and sells his MINOR products, but
ter, eggs, poultry or the like. Good
roads have been built beginning
from the towns OUT and by
from some point in the
toward the towns or vii
lagos, and by beginnlng-under
separate contracts-from opposite
ends of the projected road and work
ing toward the GENITAL point,
The third proposition needs no
in its support. A road
that is not constructed "of such
as will bear heavy freight
ing all the year round" is not an
road. Mud roads will
bear heavy freightlng during part
Of the year. "All the year round"
is the essential part of the condi-
ton of good road. When the
mud roads are good, the farmer is
plowlng OF reaping or having his
grain thrashed and has little leisure
for hauling. The roads should be
good in winter, when grain is often
higher than just after harvest; when
cord wood brings high price at the
country stores; when the farmer
has leisure to haul logs to the mill
or lumber from it; when he ought
to be able to haul his implements to
the blacksmith shop or to the foun-
dry and have them put in shape for
the busy seasons of spring and sum-
mer.
As to the fourth proposition,
much can be said for and against
it. Some very excellent roads have
been built upon the system of
working out the taxi. e., the
special tax for gravel or macad-