The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-07-13
BUILD ROADS WITHOUT MONEY
lost to Fall Equally Upon tho Users,
tho County aud tho State,

"a - ''s'IOOt mONGTs
#oss to Fall Equally Upon tho Users,
tho County aud tho State,
an address delivered before the
ern immigration and Industrial
Tess Roy Stone Of the United
s department of agriculture urged
: Importance Of good roads as O neces-
: 70 prosperous farming. His remarks
with forco to all sections Of tho
! ny. he said i'll part: Tho main
: ion Is, How can people having no
us capital build good roads? For
fswer, we must go where they have
1t successfully and study the
ODDS adopted. We can certainly fol-
these methods; possibly we may
oyo upon them. First we must
all the economies possible in con-
ton; second, we must find out all
8 arties to DO benefited and see that
bears his proper share Of the cost,
= her or not he belongs to the imme-
Locality or even to the present
Ration OF men; third, we must look
fhe local questions Of road materials
transportation, and into all tho
- improvements in road implements
machinery.
BIT who is to do all this? And what
Rs us to the first practical step in
pal road Improvement? Namely,
8evcry state should have q perma-
! commission composed of citizens Of
highest character to undertake this
Btlgatlon and recommend the neces-
&measure to the legislature. to watch
workings Of those measures when
&ted and to secure any possible i'm
2bmcnt in them.
&klng it for granted, however, that
aest wisdom of tho state will shape
legislation for road Improvement,
fhat science and skill, ingenuity and
Mess talent will all combine to pro-
tho best results ut tho least outlay,
bust come to actual figures of cost
8lelinitc plans for financing before
final answer to our question can DO
he serious hindranco to the extend
Hlilding of hard roads has been tho
4 incss of some Of those built and
general overestimatc of tho cost nee
8y. an expense of 50, 900 per milo
8yond the possible means of most
$try districts, but our inquiries have
Hoped many cases where good stone
s ARE being built for one-fourth Of
sum. The stone roads of Canaan
"a, N. y, cost only 5000 per mile.
are not wide roads, but are hcav-
toned, and they IRE so good that
81 l WAS there, in the midst of n
larry thaw, the farmers living on
B were hauling two tons Of hay on
q % horse wagon, while tho ncighbor-
alirt roads were practically impass-
idc roads are not required in an or
Try farming section. A single track
Sonc, with an earth track alongside,
4 many respects better.
5ithout going into details l judge
such II road can be built on the
3ngc in the southern states, with
labor, for So per rod. Surprising
load to be built with such labor and
3ccd upon the state aid plan adopt
h New Jersey, as modified in an act
! y passed by the assembly of New
4, the cost would fall equally upon
benefit district, the county and the
], the benefit district including the
]tual users Of the road and estimated
Axtond an average of one mile on
side Of it. Tho lands of tho users
fd be assessed in proportion to their
PITTS for onc-third of the cost, pay
in 10 annual installnents, with in
IT. beginning ono year after the COM
OH of the road, the county mean
O advancing tho money, and having
|ority to issue short bonds for this
bose and long ones for its own share.
no cost would he 81 for each acre Of
benefit districts, and the users one
II, spread over 10 years, would he
than i cents per acre yearly, includ.
Interest. The county would recoup
e largely by tho saving i'll cost of
repairs, and the state by tho in
30 in taxable values.