The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-01-12

waste valuable time enumerating the
vast benefits all classes would derive
from good roads. That the time has
come when a forward step is to be
taken in the construction of perma-
nent, good roads, possibly every good
citizen will admit, but to agree on the
most practical method by which
money can be secured at once to build
them is the question which most in
terests ps at this time The Twenty,
third Legislature will assemble Jan.
Is and but littleltime remains for the
discussion of THE question. l have
been very much interested in reading
the articles on RI ad Improvement pub
lished in The ATATEsMAN recently,
es pecially the ohe in your last weekly
in which you uske cooperation be-
tween our county, and the city in this
good work. Vie are often met
with agdments prejudicial to this
co operation, but as we'll might we
argue that a good market is not essen
tial to q farmers success or prosper
GUS agricultural community to sue.
cessful merchant. But to come more
quote few paragraphs from the pub
ll5u0u pIOCoouluR5 VI q 1OAdo OOuhVJ
meeting bearing on this subject:
"Active steps have been taken fol
some time with a view to bringing to.
gether representatives of different
counties in Texas with view to per-
manent organizath on in the interest of
county roads.u 'The active work
done by some leading parties in the
county," says the report, "proved
highly gratifying, in that conven-
ton If representatives of eleven coun-
ties met and perfected organi-
cation. Letters wd RE received from
more than seventy counties
expressing fullest sympathy in
the cause and pledging earnest
support in the movement. Different
boards of trade in cities of the state
also sent assurances of cooperation
and pledging their constituents to
aid in the good cause. A candidate
for the legislature addressed the meet
ing, giving his views and pledging
himself if elected to DO his utmost to
carry out to successful termination
the idea upon which the meeting was
held. "He said he had seen former
legislature flooded with road bills but
did not find in one of them an idea
worthy of mention"
A gentleman from Jefferson county
was in favor of counties issuing bonds
to be taken by the per manent school
fund of the state and thus benefit
both the school fund AID the road
fund. If counties borrow the
school fund they a re bound to
pay, while the titles of land are
in constant litigation. AS this was
one of the most prominent meetings
and one which adjourned to meet at
Austin on the first Monday in Febru-
airy. L would like to give more of
their proceedings, but will ask to
quote only part OF their resolutions.
LAS one of the best means Of obtain
ing good roads throughout the state,
we suggest and request of tie legis-
lature next assembled, TO pass such
laws as will permit the several coun-
ties at their option, to issue road and
drainage bonds in amount not to ex-
coed such sum as rate OF taxation of
fifteenth of one per cent upon the
assessed values of the county will
discharge both interest a"d principal,
at the expiration of thirty years. We
recommend that the investment of
the permanent school fund in such
county bonds at four per cent interest,
will be of more benefit to the state and
better security than lending it to the
railroads or the farmers.
We recommend that the state lease
free to such counties as may apply all
short term cOnvicts to work the coun-
ty roads, and that no county be allow.
ed to lease less than twenty-five con.
0t in N har unnh nnuntina tn
or the guarding, support and main
that the state purchase rock quarries
and gravel beds, work their surplus
convicts in them and furnish at actual
cost this material to the counties" A
mass meeting of the citizeus Of Bra
zoria county also asks to- bond the
county to build roads az Shtidges.
The court issued 6 pm 'bient bonds
for the $1,000 permanent Elool fund,
which had been in the 9e for years
without drawing ceIteIT interest,
to be used in lii IN manner,
The above is given to T n that the
ball has been put to roll j and that
other sections are in earag about Sc
uring funds to build good roads.
Although different methods are
proposed, the one which is the most
satisfactory where tried is the county
bond system. have advocate d this
plan for several years and have done
what could to bring about change
in our road laws and it is amusing as
well as perplexing to see how some
will persist in advocacy of the old
slipshod way of working the roads,"
In conversation with an cid settler
the writer asked his views jim regard !,
to issuing road bonds, and1 was told ]
that he believed in the pay:as:y go
plan and good roads would cost too
much, as there was no material in
easy reach of them. Possibly he had