Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-06-12
THE MAKING OF ROADS.
Times Dispatch

The VIRGINIA CITIZEN agrees with
the Fredericksburg Star that sit
might be good idea to try solution
of the road problem, which makes
every property owner the custodian
of the road adjacent to his land, or
In other words, do as they do in
cities, where each property owner
must keep his sidewalk in order"
We have no idea that such law
would ever be tolerated in Virginia,
even If it could stand the test of
the courts, but our contemporaries
are on the right line. The way to
get good roads is for each and every
community to take care of the roads
within its own borders, and this
should be by the hearty cooperation
of all persons living along the line
of the road. If all the land holders
living in Virginia would pursue this
policy it would not be long before
we would have first class roads in all
parts of the Commonwealth.
The great mistake that Virginians
have made is that they have depend
ed too much upon government aid to
do this work. Even if the govern
ment should undertake it the tax
payers would at the last have to paw
the cost, and so it would be better
and cheaper for the tax payers in the
various sections of the State to do
the work on their own account. The
State ought to do something. 1t
ought to have highway commission
aud a corps of engineers to supervise
the work. 1t ought also to employ
the convicts as far as practicable in
working the roads. But after all, if
we are to have good roads in Vir-
GINA the people must make them for
themselves, and until they determine
to do this there will be little i'm
provement.
The fact is noted that the Legis-
lature "passed no general road law at
its recent session."
Very true. Unfortunately, public
opinion is divided as to what is need
ed in the way of general statutory
provisions. Good roads require the
expenditure of considerable money.
No matter how the money is to be
raised, some additional taxation will
be necessary but when it came to
the question of granting power to
the local authorities to raise that
money, legislative opinion was d.
vided.
However, the cause is not lost.
While it is not backed by a public
opinion as active and as insistent as
it ought to be, yet it is dear to the
hearts of the people, and will con-
tinue TO be cherished.
Indeed, discussion of the good
roads question already has been ben
eticial. More than ever before, the
counties are paying attention to their
roads. Many of them have bought
road machines and are using them
successfully. Road-making and
mending are hetter done than form
erly. And, as a rule, bridge con-
struction is better than it used to be.
many counties have special road laws,
and are working under them salts
factorily. OF course, it would be
much better for US to have a general
law-broad, liberal and practical,
and covering every nook and corner
of the State, but pending the happy
day, when we shall have it, each
county may do much good, perma-
nent work son its own hook"
We scout the suggestion that the
good roads agitation has been a fail
ure so far. 1t has not. 1t has an
pealed to the sense and aroused. the
pride of the people, and stimulated
action In many communities.
While there is some legislation that
ls very desirable and some that should
be carefully avoided, after all, what
is needed is the recognition by the |
masses that good roads are needed !
that it "will pay to build them,'
and that the funds therefor must |
come. chiefly, out of the pockets of |
The great body of tax payers.