The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1903-07-15
MoRGANTowN WEST VIRGINIA. WEDNESDAY, JULY IS 1903

! it is>made an alternate system, to be
adopted by any county or district OF a
county, at its option 10 lieu OF the tax
lodging system. That is to say, up
on the petition Of 25 voters, the Coun-
ty Court must submit the adoption Of
this system to a vote of the people Of
| that County or district for ratification
or rejection.
II ratified it turns down the tax
dodger and substitutes system the
main features of which are as follows:
First competent road engineer Is
appointed to have supervision of the
construction and repair Of all the
roads OF the county or district.
Secondly, once year all the roads
Of the county are sold at public auc-
ton, in sections OF from one to five
miles, TO the lowest bidders for keep
ing them in repair for that year. The
bidders enter into contract with the
County Court to keep the respective
sections so bought by them in con-
dition of repair described by speciflca-
lions that are prepared by the road en-
gineer and made part Of their con
tract. Observation-Disclosures go into de-
tail as to the form and condition Of
the road bed as fully and infinitely as
the contract OF mechanic provides
the plans and specifications for build
ing house. The contract must be
executed under the supervision aLu
obtain the approval of the road engi-
neer or the county pays nothing. We
either have good roads or we have our
money. There is nothing to pay for
bad roads The County Court knows
at the beginning of the year what it
will cost to lhave the roads kept 10
scientific condition for that year, and
knows If they are not it does not pay
for the promise without the perform
anee. Given an engineer who knows
how to prepare the SPECIFICATIONS for a
good road and who will see that they
are followed, and contractor whose
compensation depends on the execl-
tion of his contract in accordance
with those specifications and we have
the absolute guaranty of good road
If We pay for it.
1t has been demonstrated that 1his
system costs no more, and in the long
run costs less than the hap-hazzard
method Men, under this plan, will
buy section Of road on which they
live. 1t costs something in the first
instance to get into good repair Aft
-er that a little attention now and
then in keeping it drained will pre-
serve it for for years at small expense.
For instance the best piece OF road,
probably, in the state, is that running
twelve miles between Wheeling and
West Alexander. The farmers along
this road buy it every year. They
put it In first class condition: ade-
quately draining every part of it;
matchmaking the fat places, and
rounding up the road bed at every
point, so that the expense OF maintain,
ing it is an Insignificant sum each
year. The character of the road en-
hanees the value of their farms. 1t
is pleasure to ride on it. You can
go from one end TO the other at a $40
gait and not get aljolt.
But this is only one instance Of
many that the writer has observed Of
the operation of the system which I'M
der cur law we call the "Alternate
Road Law. 1t is the system under
which good roads have been secured
wherever they prevail. We can have
it here for the asking 1t is the way
out Of the mud, And this is the
proposition upon which l stand, that
il in ninety days after this system may
be put in operation we do not have
good roads all over the county, and
at cost per mile not exceeding 10 five
years the cost of the present system,
| will make public acknowledgements
that a burlesque is better than BUSH
ness method for securing good roads.
Respectfullysubmitted.