The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-05-17
BETTER PUBLIC ROADS.
Working Them by Taxation, the Only
Just and Proper Way.

AS the GOLD LEAF has heretofore
stated the public roads in Henderson
township are being worked by taxa
ton. This is the only equitable way
OF doing it and it is the right way.
And when the people come to under
stand the question better they will be
more inclined to take this view of the
matter. That the present method of
keeping up the county roads is fall
ure, must be confessed. That the
practice of requiring the same service
OF every man, rich and poor alike, is
unjust, admits of no argument.
But we did not start out to write
on. this phase of the subject but
merely to call attention to what has
been accomplished in a short time
with small amount of money under
the new law recently put into opera
ton in Henderson township. There
are in the township 80 miles of pub
lie road. This entire amount will be
put in good condition for $500, in
Guiding the purchase of tools and
everything, leaving a balance of
something like 5000 in the treasury.
With the exception of about miles
the roads have all been gone over, in
some places twice, where they were
in very bad condition. Work was
commenced on the 10th of March the
force consisting OF an average of 6
hands. The road machine was the
main thing although they used scrap
ers, plows, shovels and picks also as
occasion required. Rocks and stumps
were removed and culverts put in
wherever needed.
Messrs. f. A. Powell. j. l.. Currin
and Geo. A. Rose are the road COM
mittee, Mr.. Powell has been in charge
Of the work, Mr.. S. Dean being "boss
of the gang" The work has been we'll
done and reflects credit upon those
having the matter in charge. They
are in much better condition and
when they become packed they will
stay SO great deal longer worked as
they have been with bitches on the
sides and thrown up in the centre SO
as to allow the water to run off in
stead of standing in the middle to
form mud puddles and mires.
The roads will be gone over again
and leveled up. In places where they
were unusually bad and a large guam
tity of loose dirt had to be thrown in
they will receive third visit from
the road machine.
Now word as to the manner of
raising the money: The road tax is
5 cents on the 500, personal prop
erty, and Is cents on the poll. A
man must be worth $1,000 to pay so
cents (not including his polly. This
tax is very light in whatever way it is
looked at and when compared to the
benefits conferred the cost sinks into
Already the roads in Henderson
township are serving as a practical
object lesson and the question of
other townships in the county follow
ing suit is being mooted. 1t is true no
other township would realize any
thing like as much money for this
purpose but they would not need
as much. They have fewer roads to
The GOLD LEAF hopes to see the
in behalf of good roads
more general. There is need of it.
The tax of bad roads is the heaviest
tax the farmer has to pay.
By taking the SEABOARD AIR LINE
to the Confederate Reunion at
Louisville, the old veterans can see the
of Graysville, Ringgold, Tun-
mel Hill, Rocky Face, Dalton, Dug Gap,
Resaca, Adairsville, Altoona, Big Shanty
Kenneshaw Mountain, Ruff and Smyrna.