The Forrest City times., 1896-05-15

This would afford relief, especially in
sparsely-settled sections. (2) County
courts may levy FIVE mills for
county purposes, including the
building of bridges and care
of roads. Usually the whole levy
is required for current expenses; but
by close economy and especially by the
revision OF the laws on costs in Grim
inal cases. considerable amount of
county funds could. lie saved and de-
voted to road purposes. One county
Washington-even under the present
laws. has accumulated enough money
20 build FIVE or ten miles of macadam-
lied road. 90 The constitution does
not prohibit the organization OF Road
Improvement Districts in which the
people who desire 10 assess themselves
for road building may do so. This is
done ia cities. and la the country spe-
cial districts have been formed for
building levees and fences and for
ditching. This legislation has been
declared constitutional by the supreme
court; hence IL is believed that laws
establishing special road districts
would be sustained. Now. a main road
is not q purely local enterprise Prop
erty-holders adjacent to an improved
road are benefited largely. bat often
there ia traffic coming for many miles.
and thousands of people who do not
live on the road use IL: hence il is Just
that local property-owners. the county
and state combine TO build and main
tain certain principal roads. In New
Jersey the property-owners paw one
tenth, the state one-third. ana the
county the remainder Of the cost OF
certain roads This is only done when
the property-owners petition for IL.
and every locality has an equal oppor-
tunity To- get a small amount Of the
fund, il certain reasonable conditions
are met This plan has the advantage
of compelling the cities, the corpora
tions, and the nonresident land-own-
ers to bear share OF the burden.
since the state and county taxes come
from all alike. The results in New
Jersey have been so happy that all
classes of people are asking for greater
appropriations. One farmer writes
AT first the farmers were largely op-
posed to the movement. but within the
past year they have become almost
unanimous in favor of the extension of
the system. l am hoping that the state
appropriations may be largely IN.
creased" Another writes: - think
the help of the state an incentive to
property-owners and counties 10 take
hold of the work, and when II is done
according to specifications aud under
intelligent supervision there is reason
to hope it will be well done. These
good roads are help to the farmer,
and we think he has right TO claim a
part of the money received by the state
from railroad and corporation taxa
ton, if spent in this public way. Good
roads are likely to hasten free deliv-
cry of mail in the country. and they
increase the value of real estate" With
distribution OF the cost as indicated.
1T is possible to have "A complete svs-
tenn for the state in ten years without
oppressive taxation. Certainly no
one should object to the local-option
plan of raising money for roads.
5. CONVICT LABoR-In addition to
the local option idea, plan whereby
state and county convicts could be
utilized in preparing material and
building roads would help to solve two
vexatious problems and would meet
with general favor.
g. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMESr-In
order TO facilitate the work in coun.
ties where the present levy is INSULT
cient, an amendment to the constitu.
ton is needed. This amendment should
authorize the people of any county.
township, town, or even a road dis
trict, to vote a tax to be used exclu-
sively for road purposes. Thus the
people who are willing to pay for
good roads would be allowed the priv
ilege, and those who do not feel able
or justified in imposing a road tax
could vote against it.
T. ORGANIzATIoN-No good cause has
ever prevailed without agitation and
education. There seems to be very
strong sentiment in favor of better
roads; but many good men despair OF
speedy results. Six years ago New
Jersey, with the exception of a few
counties, had as poor roads as Arkansas
has, but the subject was ventilated and
constantly kept before the public mind.
SO that in 1891 good law was passed,
and is now bearing fruit in great pros
perity among the people who have
availed themselves of its liberal pro-
visions. The present duty of progress.
sive men in Arkansas is to Law this sub
ject so fully and fairly before the peo-
pie that they will insist on the forward
movement. To this end it is suggest