Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-03-30
Mr.. GOODWIN WRITES
Makes a Statement About the
Good Road Proposition.

Good Road Proposition.
He Is Surprised and Gratiiied With
Expressions of Approval Which have
Reached nim-He tells Ab0nt the
Law Regulating L0ans of Money by
state to make Good Roadside
Wants Communications on the Sub
ject
To the Editor Of the New DOMINION:
Some days since, | suggested
plan whereby Monongalia County
could Obtain system of good roads,
by paving, or macadamizing 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
L, indorse any reasonable, practical
plan which will insure system OF
good roads to all parts et the county
/ am encouraged, therefore, TO take
up the this matter with the County
Court and the tax PAYERS with a
view To push it To successful con
cIusion and | have no doubt that we
shall succeed IN finding an eeonomi-
cal and practical plan for the con.
strnction of a System of roads, that
will make old Monongalia the ban
ner county of West Virginia.
The suggestion that we borrow
the money to be used for this pur-
pose from the irreducible school
fund is not original with me, but is
to be found in an act OF the legisla
ture, passed February 18th. 1899,
entitled an act concerning the pow
ers Of the county court in relation
to, roads and bridges, copy of
which said act | herewith submit,
with the request that YOU publish it
in fall:
I'm like manner they, (mean ing
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 conn
/ ty. The county court OF any county
may permanently improve by the
use of asphal Jun brick, stone. gran
tie block. or by macadamlzng, 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 such
contractor Tor the faithful perform
anee of the contract They may
pay for the work done under such
contract in whole or in part, out of
the comfy treasury, or by issuing
bonds or other ev idence of debt for
the same. In case the payment is
to be made by bonds, said court,
upon petition of fifty legal voters OF
any such county, shall submit the
proposition for the issuance of
said bonds to the legal voters of
such county, as a general, school OF
special election, and the proposition
must receive three tifths of all the
votes cast at such election upon the
question which election shall be
called. held. conducted and the re.
suit ascertained. bonds issued and
provision made for the payment Of
the principal and interest provided
for. in the same manner as is requir-
ed by section "a of chapter of 80,
and sectious 81, 50, SO, and 60, OF
chapter "a, of the Code of y est
Virginia.
Sa id section "a, or chapter 80, .
the Code. provides for the method
q: calling, holding and conducting
such an election, and the sections o
chapter "a, above referred to, proyid,
for the protection of the subscrip
ton. the manner in which such
bonds shall be executed and de
livered, aud for a tax to be levied tC
ay the interest on said bonds ant
The principal thereof when the SAM
shall become due.
The Board of the school fund may
loan uninvested moneys belonging
to said fund to the counties, fol
road purposes herein provided for
at three per cent per annum.
1t will be seen that the toregoln;
statute provides several ways b,
, which the counties Of this stat
may Obtain good roads and it wa
the evident intention of the legisla
ture, to place such roads within tn
} reach OF all.
They may be built and paid fol-
under this statute by county orders
by issuing bonds, either upon
vote of the people, or otherwise, o
with money borrowed from th'
t irreducib!e school fund, at tire
l per cent.
) We are spending over $4,000
' year on our roads under the presen
t sssstem. and the last condition o
s the roads is worse than the first
' We can built lao miles of road 70
!, $350,000 That amount OF roa
will be amply sufficient to pave Q
macadamize the main highways G
+ the county, and in 80 years we wi
: eax,a "a from, tha Ynonaxy n If wa hur