Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1896-07-31

This is not likely to be taken as the rail-
ways throughout the country have become
virtually, the common carriers Of passen-
gers, merchandise Of farm and other pro
ducts, the mails etc, and the wagon-roads,
only local conveniences.
Another is that each county should be
responsible for its roads, it is for its larger
bridges, and the money for building and
repairs be taken directly from the treasury
of the county This seems TO be the most
equitable plan as it would require the
wealthier parts of the county to aid the
poorer. There is still another, and like
the above, would require some Legislative
enactments TO bring it aboDt, and seems
TO me the most feasible. 1t is modiflca-
tion Of the last mentioned That roads of
the county be placed under the manage
ment of the county commissioners, and
this board be given the power to appoint
supervisors or roadmasters, and require
them to consider the fitness to perform the
duties of the offices, and have their terms
of office to be not less than five years. That
the said commissioners be empowered to
employ a county surveyor to draft a gen.
eral plan of road-building and repairing
for these supervisors or roadmasters to
follow in keeping these highways in order,
and also to authorize the same roadmas-
ters to not only expend the moneys appro-
priated for repairs but also to protect these
roads from hbusc, and to give them power
to grant licenses to trucks and wagons
that are intended to carry three-quarters
| l.f, -. l. AF..f.
censes when the roads are soft and liable to
be damaged by them, and also to have the
power to protect them from any other use
that is likely TO damage and to collect such
penalty as the commissioners may fix for
the violation of the laws, and that the
roadmasters be required TO make quarterly
reports to the Board Of Commissioners of
the work done, where, the character Of IL,
also to report public roads that have fallen
into disuse, in their Judgment, not neces-
sary to be kept open any longer, and for
the board to take action towards closing
them. This suggestion or plan has many
points that are eminently practical, and
does not remove the management from
those who are most intimately concerned
III them, and protecting these highways
from abuse seems to me another step In
the right direction How often have we
all seen a road put in good repair and the
next day or before it had chance to be
come solid, truck or wagon load of stone
or lumber passes over it and cuts it up so
that its condition was worse then before
it was repaired and this too, frequently,
by persons not at all interested or the re-
| sidents Of the locality or taxpayer any
| where Again. have we not freque ntly
seen loaded trucks and wagons being
drawn down hills of public highways with
| chained wheels, tearing up bridges and
| waterbreaks in theii course. This mode of
braking l should have prohibited by the
| law. This treatment of these public con-
veniences is not use it is abuse, and
should be stopped by legal means as there
| seems to be no other available. Some urge
that all roads should be macademized and
made firm for all seasons of the year where
| stone is abundant, but this is very ex-
pensive procedure and unless it is thor
oughly done, by laying the foundation
deeply and properly securing them by
drainage, in few years they would be all
broken up and destroyed like many of the
old turnpikes are now. As to the appoint
| ment of rOadmasters, rather than continue
the old plan of electing by ballot yearly,
we all must concede might secure better
service, as the ballot is not always guided
by the candidates special fitness to perform
the duties Of the office, but by appoint
ment, we should expect always to have 1t
made in that view. As to the broad tires on
wheels of wagons and heavy trucks they
are good and should. be required with
out any rebate Of taxes, to be placed on all
vehicles used for heavy loads. But these
are especially useful where the roads are
comparatively hard and are not the cure
all we would have. / have often seen on
the roads where these tires were in use,
great ridges forced up on the outside Of the
track to the hubs of the front wheels, es-
pecially where the road was of clay forma-
tion. In closing, will say that the legis-
lature should be invoked to give these
means and authority to protect the high
ways for wagons everywhere from abuse,
and then we shall soon have in all parts of
the country undoubtedly, good and safe
highways and the people not giving grudg-
ingly of time and money as they do now
towards these great public conveniences
with these words on their lips, what Is
the use in thus spending time and money
when our best work may be undone in a
few days by men who have leased a stone
quarry or purchased lumber tract along
them" All