Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-02-23

interfere most seriously with society, |
education and religion, and for this
reason, If for none other, It will pay
The people In hard cash TO repair the
roads or build new ones.
Among other improvements that fol-
low fast upon the improvement OF
country roads Is the rural free mail de.
livery. This, with the increased facil-
tiles for travelling and transportation,
and the increased value of lands, will
certainly repay all trouble and expense
in road building. The cost Of i'm.
proved roads is the mountain in the
way Of realization. But this mountain
would become n mole hill II approach
ed fearlessly. If the present genera
ton would make UP Its mind 10 bear
part Of the cost, and enjoy the benefits,
the difficulty would disappear. The
improvement must come sooner or
later.
If the farm does not pay part of the
cost during the fathers life time, 1t
must pay it during the sons life time
and ownership. And further, to ac-
complish much along this line insist
that there must be cooperation and
good efficient work done in ALL de-
partments, from the commissioners,
trustees and supervisors, to each In
dividual. IL we could secure as prompt
performance Of the duties imposed by
our road laws by each individual that
has two days work, or taxes, to be
paid in labor as good farmer or care
ful business man gives his private bus.
mess, the roads of our county could
be greatly improved, without levylne
any more taxes that the average of the
years past.
The commissioners, trustees and SUI.
pervisors, each, as a rule after making
the necessary repairs In the way of
cleaning out bitches and drains, mend.
ing culverts and bridges, filling ur
holes in the road bed, rounding up
roads, ETC., should make same perma-
nent improvements, such as cutting
down the high and filling in the low
places, moderating heavy grades, tile
draining or macadamizing some bad
pieces of road. Let the Commission.
ers make their improvements where
most necessary to accommodate the
travel of the county, the trustees make
theirs where it will best accommo.
date the travel of the township, and
the supervisors make theirs where 1t
will best suit the convenience of their
districts.
Much depends on the supervisors,
as they have full control Of the tive
days work and the taxes paid in Ia
Dor. 1t is not 50 easy to get value re.
ceived out of the labor fund as it il.
out of the cash, and for this reason
we should see that the right men fill
the Office of supervisor. Elect mer
who know how to do road work, and
are not afraid to do it, and who will
not receipt for days work until they
know that an honest days work has
been done. The supervisor should be
vigilant and exercise care during his
entire term of office. If it should be
wet and rainy after the grading or
work has been done, and the roads
become cut up and rough they should
be smothed down again with the six.
horse machine; and, by the way, tina,
is about al that machine is good for
Care should be taken not to leave any
depressions in the the road bed where
water will accumulate and cause mud
holes. No loose stone should be left
on top of the road to mix with the
mud in the winter, and shake vehicles
to pieces in the summer.
In conclusion I will say that the law
provides an ample levy, hence, it is
not so much the fault of the law as
it is the fault of the people. Let tho
people be awakened to a conscien
tious discharge of the duties imposed
upon them by the law, and our taxes
need not be burdensome to greatly
improve our roads. But if each one
tries to see how little he can do tc