Iron County register., 1900-06-14
Representative Farrar on the Road
Law,

Mr.. Editor-I desire to reply briefly
to a statement made by your cores
pondent Isaac" of Des Arc in your
last issue. He intimates that on &C.
count of the new road law, most of the
voters will not support the Did repre-
sentative.
Since announcing my desire to be
again returned to ethe legislature, l
have heard considerable comment on
the road law which was passed at the
last session. In many instances have
been given credit for the whole trans
action. While l was not member of
the committee on Roads and Highways,
and had nothing to do with the fifty
four different bills which were intro
duced On the road question. and were
disposed of at joint sessions of the
House and Senate, did listen atten-
lively to the arguments both for and
against the bill, and helped to dispose
of about thirty-fve proposed amend
ments to it.
The demand for relief from the old
ject was given a thorough inyestiga-
tion, and the plan finally adopted was
the most satisfactory. The law pro-
vides for a method of contract work,
and is intended to do away with road
overseers. 1t will prevent the use of
the road tax for private gain; and will
expend all of the funds for road i'm
provement. Similar laws are working
satisfactorily in other states, as we'll as
in the counties of this state that have
township organization, and special
road districts.
While there seems to be considera-
BILE Misunderstanding of the new law,
and like most innovations unwelcomed
in general. yet it is a move in the right
direction. The chief complaint which
l have heard, is that the County Court
made the districts so large that no one
is yelling to act as commissioner.
Don't blame the representative for this
condition, when the Court
will make the road districts in accord
auce with the intention of the law, there
will be no difficulty in securing road
If your school dis
tricts extended over whole townships
the public school system would not be
q success either.
Make the road districts lineal miles
of road, and not square miles of terri
tory; then some of the individuals who
travel each road will be willing to use
their judgement in saying how the road
tax which belongs to that district
should be expended. Having agreed
as to how and where it shall be used;
the work is done by contract. This,
law will be less suitable to our hilly
than any other in the state.
But as we are only few out of the one
hundred and fourteen. we must accept
the will of the majority and hope in
the future to have it so amended as to
suit our convenience, at least in part.
Most legislation Is accomplished by
and the law now in ques-
ton was no exception. II there was
any possible plan that was not pre-
sented at the last legislature, no doubt
1t will be on hand for the next. BY
effort few representa-
lives in this part of the state we're able
to secure the privilege of working the
poll tax, instead OF paying it in money.
The arguments for increasing the
age limit from fifty to sixty years,
we're that there are not sufficient funds
for the necessary repair to say nothing
Of carrying out more permanent class
Of work. TO exempt all OF these men
naturally curtails the income. All tax
alton is burdensome, and no one more
than | would refrain from oppression.
have yet to see the first Individual
who enjoyed paying taxes or working
.he road. But as the poll tax is only
oue dollar and fifty cents year. it will
not be such an unbearable burden.
The bridges in our county will be
and made new by contract,
and there will be an oportunity for
some to get work on the county roads
who meyer before enjoyed that
privilege.
Since the law Is in force, the sooner
bur county gets to work under it, the
quicker will the roads be benefited.
No law will be effective in communi-
" without the moral support of it's
aud the aid of its executors.
G. w. FARRAR, JR.
Eae