Mexico weekly ledger., 1899-02-16
IMPROVEMENT oFHIsRwAYs.
h. Hubert Tells How Roads Are
Worked in Texas and Makes sug-
gsstions as to Rosd-MAking
in Audrain.

provement and betterment OF the pub
lie roads are questions of Importance
and interest to everyone and every
where. There have been road con-
ventions held in recent years and the
question has been talked over and
considered from all sides; but what
are road conventions good for II the
roads are not benefited thereby 1t is
Eet the theory, bat it is the reality that
counts. see the LEDGER is still, as
usual, vigorously for good roads; and
the LEDGER is generally on the right
side of the fence. Now, / do not wish
to meddle in Missouri's affairs; but /
wish to compare the present Missouri
road system with the present Texas
system; at least in this community
where am at present. At the frs
thought person should think Mis-
souri, would be way ahead OF Texas.
Well, In good many things, it is the
truth; but not on the good roads. 1t
is true Missouri has been much longer
settled and is more densely popu-
lated; but, nevertheless, l think
Texas has more rock roads than Mis-
souri,. l have found since left here
two years ago miles Of graveled and
well-worked roads where at that time
nothing was done; and, II they keep
advancing in the future as they have
done in the past two years, IL will not
be long till all the main roads will be
passable in any kind of weather.
Now, the question arises, how did
they do it? Why, they take the State
prisoners and convicts and make them
work the roads; and, whatever they
do, they make a substantial job of 1t.
Each district has its road commis-
sioner, whose duty it Is to govern and
direct all road work in his district
and work out all the district's money
per annum and then quit.
think In the course of two years
all the main roads In this vicinity win
be passable in any Kind Of weather;
they are not making great strides, but
they are coming cure.
think the people OF Andrain coun-
ty should get together and do some
thing for better roads and public high
wsys; and il they ever wish to &C.
complish anything OF substantial merit
they ought to change the present
road law, because under the present
system not much good can be done.
There are two things that must be re-
moved, because they serve as stumb-
ling blocks in the way OF good roads
in Missouri; and / put them down
thusly: First. Let the real estate
owner do his share toward improving
the roads. In order to bs understood
right, l will give an illustration. There
are number Of men in Audrain
county and all over the State who are
the owners of large farms and tracts
OF land, which is also true of small
farms, who do not live on their farms
themselves, but live In other states, in
cities, or are pensioners, or are too
old to work the roads, ana in this way
are exempt and do nothing to improve
the roads; while, on the other hand,
they have renter or their own hands
to work the farm, men who frequent
ly possess no more property than the
clothes which they wear, but they
must either work on the roads or
pay poll-tax, while their landlord
goes out free. II there is any justice
in this, have failed to discover 1t.
This is, according to my view, one
stumbling block; there is another.
Second. Do the work systematically
and completely. This hss been one
great evil in Audrain county-tbe road
overseers are only dependent on the
farmers and legal voters-and gener-
ally cannot work the roads when they
ought to be worked, but at a time
when the farmer can spare the time
from saving his crop. And generally
1t is late In the fall when the roads are
really worked, and everything is done
in haste and many times the roads are
worse during the winter months than
II they had not been worked at all
Just because there wasn't the time and
force for the overseer to do the work
4
right-and often in the spring Of the
year the heavy rain showers will make
the roads in a worse condition than
they we're the year before, especially
in regard to culverts. Why not put in
good, substantial rock culverts9 They
may cost more in the start, but they
are good for ifty years or more. They
would be the cheapest in the long run
and would not have to be patched
every year.
Missouri has some OF the finert rock
in the world and plenty Of it at that.
Now I have not much use for bowling
and fault finding individuals who
never offer a substitute or better plan.
haven't had much time to think about
a way out on this question, but have
given it q thought or two between
times. Ihaven't any reliable statistics,
or else I could be more correct, but !
hope to cause others to look at this
road question from another stand
point and l hereby submit my own
plan for a new road law for Missouri.
II am informed right Missouri has
4s, 123, 200 acres of land In the whole
State. 1 calculate 3,12S, 200 acres for
city grounds, rivers, lakes and waste
lands. This would leave 10000, 900
acres for taxes. Put an assessable tar
on each and every acre Of ~ cents
: This would net the sum OF ef,Oeo, ,oSo.
On 160-acr farm it would amount to
four dollars; this would make the
real estate owner pay bis part whetb-
er be lives on his farm or not. Now,