Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-01-30
DIR. ]. B. HAWKINS,
Writes the Ledger a Letter in Refer
enee to the Law Governing the
building Of Rock Roads.

10 the ul the laSuktE
MEXICO Jan. While the season
OF the year is now approaching when
we are to have the roads lead
ing out of Mexico and, in fact, all over
the county will again become bad and
in many places impossible; and we see
from the correspondence to the papers
from different parts Of the county
there is a growing interest among the
farmers and country people in favor Of
improved highways and a great many
people who are anxious about the
question donot know the provisions Of
the law, or how to proceed to secure
these advantages, we will now make
some further suggestions and point
out the law for the construction of
said roads.
We saw some time ago from cor
respondent in the Message from Molino
that John Mundy proposed TO be one
Of 100 citizens who would gravel or
rock 100 yards Of road, each leading
north from Mexico.
Let me preface the law on the sub
ject by what the editor Of the LEDGER
said some time ago on this subject and
we consider this good authority as
this editor always opposed bonding
the township or county for building
rock roads: "These graveled or rock
roads would enhance the value Of any
farm by which the said roads should
be built from five to fifteen dollars
per acre, and l believe this IS a very
reasonable estimate and, ifany thing,
below the increased valuation Of such
farms.
Now, for example, let us take the
Mexico and Paris road leading north
from Mexico to the Monroe county
line; suppose the owners Of the section
OF land lying on either side Of said
road would subscribe so cts. per acre,
that would give S640 per mile. have
heard many men say they would give
one dollar per acre to have good rock
road built convenient to their farms
and many OF the citizens in Mexico
and men who do not live exactly on
the line Of the proposed road would
subscribe llberally. Now to the law
and gospel.
Article 5. Sec. 973l, Revised, 1901,
provides when ever the citizens Of any
county in this State, living along the
line Of any public road, shall subscribe
any sum not less than $50 dollars per
mile for the purpose of grading, tillng,
ditching or macadamizing one mile or
more Of such road and shall deposit
the same with the county treasurer of
the county it should be the duty of
the county court to subscribe and pay
out of the general funds of the county
a like amount not to exceed five hum
dred dollars per mile for thesame pur-
pose, provided no county shall con-
tract a debt, etc. Such work to be
done and money expended under the
supervision of the county court In
such manner as they may direct, etc.
Now, suppose that several promi-
nent parties living along the line Of
the said Mexico and Paris road Tor any
other road within the county, should
interest themselves on the subject;
for instance, DR.. Hinde, who owns a
form north Of Mexico; Charles Hill,
the johnson Bros, who, we learn, own
the Robinson farm, and other land
along this road; Mr.. Emmons, one OF
our merchants,and, to our knowledge,
is much interested in the subject:
John Mundy, Alex Carter, DIR. Settle,
George Moore, Tom Scheifier, Joseph
Martin and many Others too numerous
to be mentiond. Suppose that many
citizens on this line we're interested In
this much needed and indispensable
road building for the proper develop
ment and agricultural interest OF this
beautiful and rich section Of the coun-
ty would call a meeting Of the citi-
zens In each sub-school district
along the line, appoint committees,
discuss the matter, get the subject
properly before the people, give them
to understand that a little money
spent in building good roads would
more TO the advantages Of
all the people than any other enter
prise in which they could interest
their time and means.
Now, Mr.. Editor, let it be under
stood that what we have said about
the Mexico and Paris road is only in
the way of Illustration and applies
equally to any piece Of road in the
county, but the citizens who first get
a move on them are likely TO be the
first to secure the county help, Very
]. r. HAwRINs.