The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1895-02-23
ZEPHYR

ZEPHYR
Has Something to Say on the Good
Roads Question.
EDITOR DEMOCRAT: Will YOU
please allow a reader a short space
In your columns to make few re.
marks on the road question, to say
that much admire the idea OF
having Hooking County Work
House, as suggested by cores
pondent short time ago, and in
addition to the Work House Grim
inals, that every penitentiary bird
from this county should be made
to work on our public roads, which
would give us about thirty-five or
more regular road workers, and
where could we possibly have them
that they could do US the same
good? While this would give our
people u home market, which so
many people advocate, for much of
our farm produce, while, with the
criminals at GAINESVILLE, Columbus
and elsewhere, how much of our
produce. Is fed to this class of con.
sumers? Further, let me say, that
the value of our lands would be
more enhanced by having good
roads, with a very little extra cost
over our present system of work,
and too, that there would be such
an effect on the criminal class by
30 working them here at home,
right where they committed their
offense, that the future record Of
crime in this and all counties of
Ohio would most certainly be re-
ducel were this the punishment,
for crime, and no other alternative.
I, for one, could not favor the idea
of bonding the people of this or any
other county in Ohio for building
pixies or macadam roads, but to
levy a tax for the special purpose,
and In something like the follow.
ing, viz: Those persons owning
property within one mile of the
pike being built to pay one-third of
the levy for such purpose, and those
persons owning property within
the next mile to pay fourth of
the levy, and those persons owning
property within the third mile linn
it to pay one. fifth of such levy, and
the remainder to be paid by the re.
naming tax payers of the county,
and have these levies made and
used in the construction of these
public roads, annually, for as many
miles as may be built each year, to
be determined by the county COM
missioners and Il road committee of
four persons, selected as follows,
one by the commissioners, one by
the probate judge, one by the in
firmary directors and one by the
sheriff and auditor, which body of
men shall compose road commits
sion to determine how many miles
shall be built each year, and how
far, on any line already begun, and
the cost of such work and
to make such contracts for the
of such lines of pike so
built, and know that the contracts
ire perfectly completed within the
ime as agreed.
Why should we grumble and
complain 80 long about our miser-
'ble highways when from 90 to 40
niles of road could be built each
'ear, and the money 80 spent in
his work would be kept right here
'mong our own citizens, or nearly
VI, and every one have the bene-
Its derived from cost of good roads
% soon regained, he would hardly
Know how it could be possible he
lad played the part of Rip Van
vinkIe these forty years or more.
Rouse uPy ye Rip Vanwinkles,
nd shake of the sleepy spells and
et this much hoped for vision a
wing reality. Let US discuss this
n0re fully now while too cold. to
make roads and ba ready to do
ere long to get the much
eeded Improvement. ZEPHYR.
THE ART AMETEUR grows more ,
lteresting with each number. .
Vhat with Its charming color plates {
LSVO Nra U1vo0 tt,so ..o~s.l arc,