Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-03-06
They are One Of the Greatest Needs Of
TaEsEell County.
SHALL OUR COUNTY HAYE THEM?


tedtfOr the tne lertlIlJy vi ls Gun " ~
wonderful agricultural resources. Along
with this has gone a reputation fol very
bad public roads. The character OF the
roads has, in measure, been occasioned
by the peculiar nature of the soil and the
unfavorabe topography for road construc-
ton. A great many persons, however,
, think that the county roads could nave
been made much better if they had been
carefully managed and there had been
more judicious expenditure of the funds
that have been raised by taxation and
loans for road purposes. But, in the Ian
gusge of Mr.. Cleveland, sit is a condition
and not theory that confronts u.s." Every
intelligent citizen prior to the great flood
of last June had become satisfied that
some action, on large scale, ought to be
taken for the improvement of the county
roads; and since the terrible damage that
was inflicted by that unprecedented flood
to our already unsatisfactory highways the
necessity for speedy and efficient action
has become more apparent.
No time should be lost in talking about
what has been done, or what ought to
have been done. 1t is time for action,
not criticism. Improvement of the roads
is the great crying need of every section OF
the country. A large amount cf money
judiciously expended is the only thing
that will relieve the situation. Shall that
money be raised, and how shall it be ex'
pended? are two questions that must be
promptly settled. If large sum is to be
appropriated for road building and repair
ing it will have to be borrowed; and if a
loan is negotiated, legislation will be re-
quired before that can be done. The Leg
islature is now in session, but the session
will be brief one. Tazewell county is
represented in the Senate by MIR. j. n.
Harman, and IN the House of Delegates by
MIR. w. L. Moore. Both of these gentle
men are honest, capable and keenly alive
to the welfare of their county. They VIII
not, however, feel disposed to take any
decided steps on this important question
without some expression of opinion from
their constituents. Such an expression
can be most satisfactorily given by public
meeting; and certain citizens, who are large
taxpayers in the county, have issued call
for public meeting to he held in the
courthouse next Wednesday, the 18th
inst.
We hope there will be alarge number OF
the citizens of the county present at the
meeting next Wednesday, and that some
intelligent, satisfactory plan can be agreed
upon for the improvement of our roads.
The good roads question is now the most
conspicuous one in the United States, and
at the South it s taking precedence of all
other questions. Tazewell county should
wake up; and no longer pay heed to the
demagogues who try to alarm the people
by the cry of an increase of taxes. Any
man who will take the time to think and
the trouble to investigate will find that the
heaviest taxes the people are paying are
those paid to the bad roads. 1t amounts
to three or four times as much as would be
needed to pay the interest on a sufficient
loan TO give us good roads.
At the session of the Legislature in De-
cember Senator Harman introduced and
secured the passage of an amendment to
the road law. which was approved by the
Governor, and Is as follows:
Sl4. In order to provide for the con-
struction of new roads, and for the perma-
nent improvement of roads already con-
structed in Tazewell county, and pay for
construction and repairs heretofore made,
the board of supervisors of said county
are hereby authorized to borrow for the
county such sum or sums of money so that
the indebtedness of the county therefor
shall not exceed at any one time thirty
thousand dollars. and to secure the money
borrowed the board of supervisors are au-
thorized and empowered to execute and
sell the bonds of the said county of Taze-
well. the bonds to be executed under the
seal of the Board of Supervisors of the
said county, signed by the President Of
the Board of Supervisors and attested by
the clerk of the board. Said bonds, how
ever, shall not run longer than ten years,
and shall not bear greater rate of interest
than six per centum per annum, the in
tsrest to be payable ssmi-annually, and
xaid bonds shall not be sold below par,
but nothing herein shall prevent or pre-
clude the said board from paying a COM
mission to broker or other person to
!, have said bonds placed.
"S19. The board Of managers for each
nayisterial district shall elect one Ct then