The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1903-03-10
PROBLEM or GOOD ROADS
Only One Way 10 Build Them
Issue Bonds.

as every ono seems to take diff.
ferent view of the way to raise the
money to build the roads, and as I
have had some experience in that
line, l will willingly give it for what
it is worth, and will comment on
the advantages to be derived from
good roads.
One writer wants to tax the peo-
pie by the head to build them; an
other wants to tax the farmers to
buildthem, as, he says, they are the
ones who use them and get the ben
eft of them. Another wants to
build them with convict labor.
Such ideas are all wrong and such
people would never build even a
dirt road, but it does show this,
that the people want and demand
better roads and are willing to pay
for them. Now the way to raise
the money seems to be the ques-
ton.
In my mind there is only one
way, and that way is to do as Presi-
dent Cleveland did-you all remem-
Der what he did-issued bonds, sold
them and got the money. The third
party said it was not constitutional
to issue bonds in time of peace, but
it went just the same.
The first thing to do is to find out
how many miles of road you are go
ing 20 build, what kind Of roads and
the cost per mile to build them, is
sue your bonds for the amount, get
the money and build the roads.
There is no other right or just way
to build them, because everybody is
interested alike. In my mind this
is the biggest problem before the
country. 1t is one which needs inn
mediate and serious attention. We
need to cover the country with good
roads so that the farmers can come
to the city when the roads are good.
Civilization is good, school houses
are good, churches are good, and so
is everything else that counts.
Not until recent years has there
been much attention paid to the
condition of the roads in this coun-
try, unless the roads became i'm
passible, then the citizens banded
together and worked them until the
temporary defects were repaired and
no more was thought OF the roads
until the same condition again pre-
vailed. But the condition of the
country is different today. Ellis
county is practically fenced up with
lanes, and the people are compelled
to travel these muddy and almost
impossible roads which do not only
take up the FARMERS time, but sap
the very life of his horses and
mules.
Bad roads stagn ate business; they |
lnjure the social and educational |
life of the farm: they keep the chill |
dren from school and church and
make life a burden for them. On
the other hand, if they had good |
roads their lives could be made hap
Ply, for they could visit their neigh
bors and could be more sociable, |
and would certainly enjoy them
selves more and be better satisfied |
on the farm. Give the farmers good |
roads and they will make good |
farms, and there is no question but
they are stronger and healthier
there than in the city and ought to |
be happier.
There are all kinds of roads in the |
United States, but the McAdam
and Tilford roads are the best. They |
seldom get out of order, and a wash
ng rain does not cause ruts to |
forIn. Ruts are a serious menace |
% owners of horses, because very |
often horse is very seriously in
uTed. On their account bad bridges |
are another evil OF the poorly kept |
-oads of this country, and many a
valuable horse has fallen through !
often bridge planks and broken /
heir legs, forcing the owner to Kill
he animal.
Many states are nov spending
Millions Of dollars every year Ina the
Improvement Of public highways.
There are State Road Improvement
4 Associations in twenty-fOur states,
highway commissions In eleven
states, and the National good roads
IsA OciatiOn is represented In TWEEN
y-seyen states. Some states have
ieither State Road Improvement
avs nor is any effort made TO i'm
'rOye the roads, unless necessity
the farmers and merchants
% act To preserve an equilibrium Of
he market.
New Jersey now has the best
'oads and Missouri perhaps the
Forst. New Jersey has recently
IS, $50 900 IN road improve
nsnts and builded seven hundred
niles Of new roads.
Missouri raises more farm pro-
luce than any any state In the In