The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1903-04-01

Makes 4 Statement About the
Good Road Proposition

He is Surprised and Gratiiled With
Expressions Of Approval Which have
Reached tim-H tells About the
Law Regulating Loans Of Money BY
state to make Good Roads He
Wants Communications On the sub-
jeet
To the Editor OF the NEW DOMINION:
Some dass since, | suggested a
plan whereby Monongalia County
could obtain system of good roads,
by paving, or maeadamizine the
main highways OF the county, as
should be found most practical and
desirable
The suggestion met with such
hearty approval from the tax pay
ers all over the county. as leafs me
to conclude that the people are ready
T., indorse any reasonable, practical
plan which will insure & system OF
good roads to all parts eft the county
| am encouraged, therefore, to take
up the this matter with the County
Court and the tax PAYERS with
view to push it TO successful con
clusion and have DO doubt that we
shall succeed IN, finding an eeonomi
cal and practical plan for the con
struction of system Of roads, that
will make old Monongalia the ban
ser cpanix of West Virginia.
The suggestion that we borroN
the money to be used for this pur-
pose from the irreducible school
fund is not original with me. bat IS
to be found in an act okthe legisla
ture, passed February 18th, 1899,
entitled an act concerning the pow
ers OF the county court in relation
to- roads and bridges, a copy Of
which said act herewith submit,
with the request that YOU publish it
in full:
I'm like manner they, (meaning
the County Court may contract and
pay for making, improving, or keep
ing in order, the whole or any part
of any county road within the coun-
Ity. The county court OF any county
may permanently improve by the
use Of asphal ,um bricF, stone, gran
tie block. or by macadamizing, or
other process of equal merit, the
main county roads within their
county, and may contract therefore
with any contractor for the use of
these foregoing systems, and take
bond and security from any sue b
contractor Tor the faithful perform
ance of tbo contract They may
pay for the g~ark done under such
contract in lie or in part, out OF
the county asury, or by issuing
bonds or l4sr evidence-of debt for
the same. J 4 case the payment is
to>be matic by bonds. said court
upon petition of fifty legal voters Of
any such county, shall submit the
proposition for the issuance oil
said bonds to the legal voters Of
such county, as general, school Of
special election, and the proposition
must receive three fifths of all th,
votes cast at such election upon tn,
question which election shall b,
called, held, conducted and the re
suit ascertained. bonds issued ant
provision made for the payment o
the principal and interest provided
i for, in the same manner as is requir
ed by section "a of chapter of 80
and sectious 81, 81, SO, and 60, o
chapter 81, of the Code of ~ es
Virginia.
Said section II, q hap en- 80, o
the Code, provides for the methot
q. calling, holding and conducting
such an election, and The sections o
chapter 81, above referred to, provid
, for the protection of the subscrip
. ton, the manner in which sncl
r bonds Shall be executed and de
2 livered, aud for tax to be levied tt
, pay the interest on said bonds ant
E the principal thereof when the sam,
shall become due.
+ The Board of the school fund ma,
loan uninvested moneys belonging
to said fund to the counties, 70
road purposes herein provided fol
: at three per cent per annum.
1t will be seen that the foregoing
statute provides several Ways b,
which the counties of this stat
may Obtain good roads AMI it wa
the evident intention of the legisla
; ture, to place sueh roads within TIL
! reach of ALL
They may be built and paid for
under this statute by county orders
by issuing bonds, either upon
vote of the people, or otherwise, o
: with money borrowed from thu
! irreducib!e school fund, at thre'
per cent.
We are spending over $4,000 !
year on our roads under the present
! system, and the last condition 0
} the roads is worse than the first
We can build lao miles of road fol
$35O.000. That amount of roat
will be amply sufficient to pave o.
macadamize the main highways o