Times-promoter., 1898-12-03
Road Improvement.


cussed very frequently now Ey-
cry one has Il theory of his own.
The present system of making
and maintaining roads is both up
held and condemned for various
reasons.
! think the present system both
antiquated and unfair. 1t does
not yield results commensurate
with the time labor and money
spent upon it, and it should be su-
perccded by a more effective
method. Its burdens are not dis
tributed in a way that has the least
semblance ofjustice, therefore 1t
should be abandoned for more
equitable system.
1t will be impossible to discuss
all the faults of the presentsystem
without trespassing too much up
on your time and space which may
he needed for other matters, so a
few must suffice for the present.
| mention first that it is impos
slble to make far distribution
Of hanus among the various over
seels, and it is impossible to main
tain a just apportionment of hands
even if it could be made on ac-
count of the constant moving of
the hands. Ii is in some sense q
tax on thrift; | have known one
man to furnish nearly two-thirds
OF the tools used on road simply
becauso he lad gone to the eX-
pense of getting better tools than
the rest, and not because he would
get any great benefit from the use
of them on the road. In fact the
man here referred to is one of those
who get the least benefit from such
work. 1t does not conform to the
Just rule Of giving value for value
which is as applicable to the road
question rs it is to anyOther. Here
Is an example to illustrate the
point: | own 100 acres of land
bounded OF two sides by public
roads. The maintaining of those
roads enhances to a considerable
extent the value of my land. If my
tenants are subject to road duty
they furnish me with u certain
value by road word, and then pay
me interest upon it in the shape
Of rent Upon what principle Of
justice should they be required to
give me the principal and then pay
me interest on the value of their
gift?~
If employ men to dig bitches
and raise entertainments which add
to the value Of my place, 1t is only
just that should pay them. Why
should I not pay for value gained
from road work!
The cost of roads should be as
sesscd against the property bene-
fitted There are many who con-
tend that improvement in roads
mean that the value of wagons and
teams will be enhanced. This no
ton comes solely froma confusion
Of thought and a misuse OF terms.
Let US suppose a case for illustra-
ton: We will say one hundred
wagons and teams are doing the
hauling between fernando and
Momphis. In due time the road
is so improved that fifty can do the
work just as easily, and the other
fifty are thrown upon the market.
t is impossible that lessening the
omand for wagons and teams and
hroWlng an additional number on
the marketcouId increase their val
ue. In this case the result would
he to increase their effectiveness
and decrease their value. The su-
pertluOus teamsterS would COM
pete with other teansters and with
I2borers generally and the tenden
cy would be to reduce wages and
the value of labor products, and
to increase the value of land near
the roads so improved. This may
sound strangely to some but they
should reflect that it is often the
case that truth is stranger than fc-
ton, 1t may be that equity has
uttered dictates to which vn hovo