Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-02-23
4 ADDRESS
BY Squire BixIer
On the Subject OF Good
Roads.
Ohio Spends More Than
$3,OOO,OOO a Year
sva
To Keep Roads In 0rder-ShouId
Have Good Ones.
Something About the Cost Of Roads
In Summit County.

The following PAPER on road I'M
provmcnt was read by Squire b. w.
Bixler, of Springfield, at the recent
session Of the North Springfield Far
mers' Institute:
The subject assigned me by your
committee, namely, "Road Improve
ment," is one that should challenge the
attention of every enterprising citizen.
Advanced writer's tell us that roads
have always been regarded as accu'
rate tests of the degree of civilization
to which country has attained. A
man need not travel many miles
through this country to find out that
our country roads are not what they
should be-
This is not due altogether to neg
lect. Nor so much to lack of material,
but perhaps more TO the manner in
which the work is performed. The
work is done too much in a crazy
quilt fashion, here patch and there
patch, and every patch of different
material,-sod, sand, clay, and what
ever is most convenient Is dumped
into the road. Supervisors are very
often chosen, not on account of the
fitness of things, but from various
other reasons too numerous to mention
here.
When we consider the magnitude OF
the wonderful works of man in the
past one hundred years we wonder
why, the art of road building has not
kept pace with other improvements.
Your essayist can we'll remember the
time of the slow, plodding OK team
and travel on the raging canal, but
instead of this we have today tho
lightning express and the automobile
to crafty the wishes of fast age
In comparison with these anu many
other advancements, ask: Is there
yet one who will not say that our
road system is, in part at least, relic
of the dark ages, and should go into
obscurity with the evening of the
nineteenth century. And as the dawn
of the morning sun of the Goth cen
fury will soon shine upon us, we should
60 forth, striving to so improve upon
our past mode Of life that in all things
we might add to our comfort and hap
piness. But, says one, we cannot al
low ourselves to be taxed on addition
to a now burdensomc tax that oul
roads may be improved. Let us con
slider few facts and figures and there
by determine whether we are willing
to continue the present reckless and
expensive system.
When supervisors neglect to work
on the roads until nearly fall, as is fire.
uuently done, then we say that reck'
lessness is indeed, very apparent,
for roads worked thus late
in the season are surely
made worse instead of better We said
the present system was expensive; let
us see if this be true.
We have in the township of Spring
field about 800 voters; approximately
about two-t thirds Of these have to work
poll tax equal to about $3.50 each every
year; two thirds of 500 is 334 persons,
which means a poll tax of $S35 annual
ly, or its equivalent in labor. Our
road tax which is levied by the County
Commissioners, is between $500 and
5000 per year. We have in this town
yIsors to pay. We purchase some gray
el, sewer pipe and road plank, making
the last four items cost of 5000;
poll tax, SS35; road tax, $500; super
vlsors, etc, 5000; total, S2,235. What is
true of this township is undoubtedly
true of all the rest in the state. II so,
think for moment of the amount of
money and labor expended. Sixteen
townships in county, SO counties in
the state, making total outlay in the
state Of So, 146, $50 year. May we not
then consistently ask; Shall this sys-
tenn continues as the years so by or
will we learn to know our own finan-
r cal benefit by better road facilities,
and by expending this vast amount of
money, or labor, If you please, more
iudiciously. Remember, time is money.
The first step to be taken, in my
Judgment, Is 10 select a proper and
feasible route to your county seat.
The aim should be 10 accommodate as