The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-31
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Of money and labor?
How many miles Of better roads" have
been built?
It is left to the reader to answer
These millions Of money expended and
these millions Of labor In lien Of money
should have constructed ten thousand no.
OJO miles Of permanent mac1damized
! gravel and dirt or earth roads.
II the present and past methods are
followed little better roads can be hoped
| for in 1910 or 1920 than az present. II the
| present road tax is properly expended
! every dollar made 10 perform its part
without one dollars increase of tax, by
1910 we will 10 longer be in mud and
mre, and after 1910 the road tax Of each
individual will De lessened by the in.
/ crease in population. and the number Of
Mules Of permanent road then constructed
Later on counties might issue bonds.
interest TO be paid out Of road-tax fund.
sinking fund for the redemption OF
bonds to be set aside from road-tax fund
leaving still a surplus in many counties
to be applied TO roads. This would great
~ accelerate he end aimed at-yiz., GOOD.
permanent roads.
What has succeeded elseWner, ought 10
succeed here.
The report Of the Commissioner Of I'm.
migration for 1893 shows that nearly 40
w farmers mot farm labOrers) landed i'm
lNis country in 1853 How many Of them
came 10 Virginia? Probably forty. How
many might have come TO virginia had
they found the same superb roads they
mad left behind in France. Germany
England. and Ireland2
In Germany the farmer and the farm
hand live i'm the villages. go one. two
and three miles TO their work.
lhere Is no one day in the 3Gj on which
ne cannot haul his maximum load he
cause the roads are always as good as
we paved streets Of Richmond to-day or
oi other improved cities in this country
thousands OF such farmers would come
TO Virginia from Germany and other Euro
pean countries had we good roads.
FOR results in this country. the recont
experiences in Union county. y. J.. may
De cited. VIII only cite a very few OF
me many facts given by Charles G. Nc
BFlhe' Nice-president OF the New Jersey
State Road Association:
Previous to 1889 the road from Eliza.
beth to Plainheld was almost irnnassabie
Tor several months of the year and fire.
quently grand juries brought present
ments and found indictments. The Cen
tral railroad of New Jersey ran parallel
'hlS ROAD and very near IL. but no
~'"'h bt Hidut or the lands adjacent
since the completion OF these roads IN
le'2' farm held at $1,000 before the roads
were built, but could find no purchaser
since completion $4,000 has been refused
NO improvements added 20 farm. Four
towns nave sprung up. and property along
.ne Whole road has advanced from 100 10
I'"V per cent. 4 tract Of 100 acres. Owned
Dy a syndicate, of which Andrew car.
hesie was one. in 1872 was sold under
sheilhs sale for $1,000 Before tbeee
roads were built it could not be sold for
S9y per acre. Six months ago II sold for
SlzOvw. The good roads did IT,"
In conclusion Mr.. Mcbride SAYS with
reference TO farmers: ITO them all an
peais Tor good roads must ultimately
come II they oppose good roads. good
ROADS viii not be built outside Of large
cities and towns"
lie says: Il attended their annual
meeting. 1t was the universal opinior
tiat the good results had far exceeded
the .anticipations; that the value OF farm
lands had Increased p ON 10 TO 90 nor
cent that they were worth all the casts
IN the saving Of harness. Of wagons. ana
Dt horse flesh throwing out Of considara.
ton the increased value Of lands" &C.
&c.
These are only a very few Of the many
strong points In Mr.. McBride's articles
The Famous Roads Of Union County.
~ >. X. Y. =.