The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-25
Richmond, Va, March 24th.
I;lsd- rking.


Editor of The Times:
Sir,-No one can fail to be impressed
with the power of public sentiment as
affecting both church and State. The
! necessity, therefore, Of its proper direc-
ton will not be questioned Just now
public sentiment seems to have crystal
| lied upon two subjects-hgher education
and bodybuilding. It is the purpose OF
this article to deal with the latter sub
| ject. For many decades we made use
of that system of roads kept in repair by
! involuntary labor, the law requiring two-
| days service of each person between GER
! tain ages. This system, Wniie unsauS-
| factory, had at least the merit Of being
| inexpensive and DOUBTLESS would have
| been continued but for the decision Of our
| highest court.
When it became evident that the
| method would have to be changed the
| writer, who was then q member of the
| General Assembly, after conferring with
representatives from other sections OF
the State, introduced a bill looking to
building two main highways in each coun-
ty in the State,t running north to south
and east to west and passing at or near
the county seat; these two main lines to
be constructed by q moderate tax and
by the labor of jal-birds and short-term
convicts in State prison. But public sem
timent was not ready for so large an ex
penditurc of money upon our highways,
and nowhere perhaps did it meet more
violent opposition than in my own dis
trict. Two years later Governor HILL
of New York. made the same suggestion
to the General Assembly. then in session.
and was taken up by the press Of the
country and highly commended. Had
this plan been adopted at that time QSS5)
there can be no doubt of the fact that in
FIVE years thereafter each county would
have completed these two main lines,
which, being continuous. would have
given us an improved line throughout the
state north to south ard east TO west
the local roads in the meantime being
| kept up by agreement of property-holders
living on or adjacent thereto. or by a
light district tax. 1t can readily be
seen. had this have been done, great
local as we'll as public conveniences
would have resulted. The counties I'M
der this system would have Eeen divided
by these two main lines into nearly four
equal parts, and any citizen wishing to
reach the county seat would make to
the nearest point on the main line.
l would suggest a few of the many
advantages that present themselves to
my mind by the counties undertaking
these improvements rather than the dis
tricts In the first place the districts
could not avail themselves Of convict Ia
bor which would largely be used on
account of the expense of guarding them;
second, the districts could not afford the
expense of such road machinery as should
be employed; and. third. any county may
consider itself fortunate to be able to
secure the services of more than one man
who is in all respects qualified to take
charge Of such AN undertaking. How
ever, upon the theory that each district
has the right to levy and eNpend its
been working, and with what result?
While our taxes for road-buildng hav
! grown to be as great. or perhaps great
than both State and county tax combined
before 1851 and with what result? If
road expert should inspect our roads,
venture the assertion that little or Moth
ing has been done that looks to perma-
nent Improvement. There can DC no
question that the property interest of
the State favor improved roads and are
willing to be taxed therefor under a prop
er and practical system Of load-buildins
But they are utterly opposed TO any
further taxation to- be devoted to pur-
chase Of road machines. to be laid ASIDE
for want Of practical Intellect to WORK
them: neither for tho cumbersome ana
extensive system of road-boards to pass
11uor eycr,- little claim at Il cost at times
greater than tie claim itself. It is in
deed q great undertaking to build n prop
er system or public highways. Such a
system will, under the most favorable con-
ditions, cost q large sum. 1t cannot De
done under several gears without oppfes-
sing the people with undue taxation.
LET tho General Assembly provide ior
the election OF q county road board. to
whom shall Ba committed the building
and maintenance Of our public highways,
,vitl. power to levy tax and to make use
Of couv;cts Let the people exercise
naticnce and in five years we will have
! a system of roads that will reflect. cretl!t
,,non tho State Let the agitation of
this question so on until something prac-
teal IS cvo-ed.