Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-18
The GOOd-Road Problem.
bedford Bulletin.)


Last week mention was made of the
fact that by hiring labor the road from
Bedford City to the Single Block road
was repaired and changed at a cost OF
about $500, when the lowest bid for the
same amount of work was 5000. While
this was a saving of one half, the work
could have been done by convict labor AT
a cost of about $50, being one half
cheaper yet than the price of hired labor.
The convicts were sent back 10 Rich
mond as a measure of economy, yet 1t has
turned out that the system Of road work
ing since then inaugurated has not only
cost more in actual funds, but has ac-
complished much less in beneficial re-
suits.
During the time the convict system
was in force the county levy for general
expenses varied from % to 50 cents on
the 500, but never higher than 50 cents.
The next county levy after their return
to Richmond showed an increase in the
general tax Of cents on the 500. In
1886 this increase was made to support
the High School. In 1881, after the High
School had been abandoned, there was no
decrease in the tax for general expenses.
As the levy now stands, there is a spe-
cific tax of 10 cents for district road pur-
poses and 81 cents for general expenses
and general road purposes. The current
expenses of the county do not materially
change. the construction and repairing
of roads being the chief variable items
of the county's expense account, and il
is evident that the 2 cent increase has
gone for this class of work.
Besides this increase of 2 cents in May,
1897, the Supervisors borrowed 5000
which was also applied to road work.
A convict force averaging thirty men
and the county chain-gang costs on an
average A,4S0 per year, and yet in eigh-
teen months since this force was aban-
doned the general levy has been raised
cents and 5000 borrowed to devote 70
road work. So much for the cost. Now
let us see what has been accomplished
under the two systems.
When, in 1892, the convict force was
brought here there was hardly what could
be called a good road of any length in
the whole county, and, as one resident
put 1t, the farmer going TO market was
constrained to carry a small blacksmith
shop with him to make repairs along the
way. The work done by the convicts
during their stay here is in evidence in
every district. Roads all over the county
were changed from impossible mule trails
TO pleasant driveways. and now the
farmer can come to market without fear
Of being mired. broken down, or upset
The work has stood the test of seasons
and, with little repairing, is there to stay
This work cost the county less than
5000 per annum, and was paid for out
OF the general tax, which never during
that time exceeded 35 cents.
In the last eighteen months, so far as
we can learn, there has been little work
of consequence done in the county, ex-
cept in two or three districts, and not
even in these has the total approached
the convict work in a like space of time
What has been done is also pronounced
by road experts as not comparable with
the convict work in stability and per-
manency At the end OF two years I'M
der this system the expense TO the county
will have been $500 borrowed, an add
tional tax of cents, amounting to about
81, 600 a year, as well as the IS cents In
force before. The first year of the 2-cent
additional tax was applied 10 the High
School, so the total additional expense
of the two years ending July, 1888. will
be about 5000
Senator Lowry has introduced a bill 10