The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-07-25
FOR GOOD ROADS.
Opinion or n Wheelman on This I'm
Dortant Matter.


.~rne Great reason why we have so few
good roads in the United states Is thbI
we have left il to the farmers alone TO
buiid them. This IS wrong. IL Is apso-
mteIv impossible for the farmers alone
To provide a system OF good roads ne
cost is altogether too great. ana uhleSS
substantial help is furnished them, upon
some reasonable basis, progress IN roth
building will continue 20 be SLOW ana
unsatisfactory, says Otto Dorner. ch'ir-
man OF the T. \. W. Highway Improve
ment Committee.
'"rhe help which the farmers require IN
building roads should como from the
cities The cities are the great centers
OF wealth. they are the great markets
in which business is done-the great dis
trinuting points for manufactures and for
agricultural products. Agricultural
America has built them up and maintains
them. The union between the cities ana
farming districts Us close. upon a nun
drod different channels Of trade kach
depends upon the other. What is more
proper. therefore. than that the city
should unite with the country IN con-
strucung and maintaining suitable and
efficient means OF communication and
transportation"
There need be no doubt that the tax
payers Of most American cities are will
ing and ready 70 contribute TO the cost
Of building country roads Their ncces-
sitv Is as thoroughly realized IN the cities
as 10 is by the farmers who become stall
ed on "A muddy road with o load OF grain
hauled half way t0 market. city people
know the country better than they have
eyer known 10 before and their business
relations with country people are grow
ing more and more intimate. They are
% fra convenience rH
which would result from the construc-
ton Of good roads and know that they
themselves would be. IN large measure.
the gamers
But how can tax be levied upon
city property for expenditure in country
districts for road building purposes? A
city tax is out of the question. as much
so as fl would De 20 levy a town tax upon
farm property for building sewers i'm
distant city. True. county tax might
be- levied, a large share of which would
Doe paid by the cities situated I'm the c0un-
ty. and which might bee used for the
building of roads in amy locality within
the county.
But this Is not sufficient. especially In
the case Of large cities. like Chicago. New
York. Cincinnati, ST. Louis. Minneapolis
and Baltimore Their interests extend far
beyond the counties in which they are Sit
uated. indeed. the cities themselves con-
stitute the greater part. or nearly all, Of
the tax-paying property included I'm these
counties They may properly contribute
20 the cost Of building roads I'm all the
territory from which they draw their
trade"
THE best method yet devised for levy
ing taxes upon city property for the pur-
pose Of building country roads Is by the
medium of Il State tax. This IS levied
upon city and county property alike, upon
AN classes of people, so that every To-
callty, every taxpayer contributes pro-
portionately. according 10 the amount OF
property owned. the wealthy property
owners contributing the largest amounts
Massachusetts. New Jersey New York
and Connecticut are probably the States
which have made tina greatest progress
I'm country road building. They nave an
levied State highway taxes. and nave
built roads by "a system OF state AID
While the rate OF taxation has been low
the amount collected has been cOnsidera-
Bile In New York $1,000 were collected
by a State tax OF one ana one-tenth cents
upOn every thousand dollars assessed
valuation. and f0ur-hfths OF the whole
amount was collected in the cities, whore
most of the property in the state is sit
! uated."
THE state aid system does not interfere
In any way with present methods or
road building but simply provides a
means by which AN enterprising country
community, desiring 10 possess hrst-class
highways may obtain financial assist
ance for the purpose from the cities. The
State does not pay for building such
roads. but simply contributes 10 their eN-
pense. just as 10 contributes 10 the cost
Of maintaining public schools, which are
conducted by the local school officials.
Z but which 10 receive such State assist
ance, must be up 10 a certain standard