The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-01
Letters to The Editor.
For Good Roads.

For Good Roads.
 Editor The Advertiser.
 l presume that every citizen of Alaba- ma VIII assent to the proposition that good roads would contribute very largely 10 the general prosperity of the State. and transportation and are in every way de- sirabie. By the old system of workins them. which is stiil in vogue, the people will never have good roads. Nor is Il desirabls object. To work the county convicts upon the public roads may ac- complish something. but 1t Is . slow process and attended with considerable
 During my travels in Europe last spring I observed among other things that ev- cry country had rood roads and knew the desirability and utility of such things. I inquired into the method. and while l found that they were not the same in all practically the same in the majority of them, and 1t struck me that a similar method. if adopted here, would work out the desired result In shorter space of time than any have heard suggested.
 That method can be substantially reached by the enactment of law in- vesting the County Commissioners and Boards of Revenue with the power to let out roads in convenient sections of ten twenty miles. etc. to the lowest re- sponsible bidder for a period of five or ten years, such bidders to give bond with approved security to keep his section of road either macadamixed or otherwise in splendid condition for the accommodation of the travelling public. and as compen- sation to induce parties to make and keep such contracts authorize the erection of toll gates and prescribe the maxim of tolls which may be charged and col lected for the passage of vehicles, great and small. fixing such rates so low that no one running any such vehicle would object to paying ti; and yet these same tolls in the aggregate would be sufficient in keeping his road in such splendid con- dition. The public has no idea, at how low rate these tolls may be fixed and still in the aggregate pay the contractor a fair compensation. It is a perfectly fair and equitable way of paying for such roads. because those who use them are the people who are to be benefited and they alone pay for the keeping up of such roads. The men who pass along the road horseback, or on foot. should not be re- operator of heavy wagon with a six mule team; let each pay according to the benefits he receives. No owner of such a team as last mentioned would object to paying l cent a mile for the privilege of travelling over a macadamized road rath- ers than through mudholes, gullies and other impediments and yet probably in most cases one-half cent or even one h flcient contribution to be collected from such owners. Of course the character of the road and the section of country through which 1t would pass would have much to do with the rate of charges to be collected. I do not propose in this connection to do more than to suggest the method. The Legislature composed of men representing each and every busi- ness within the State. are fully car pablo of fixing a reasonable schedule of charges. which the court or County Commissioners could adjust and apply to the roads in counties.
 I believe that a statute judiciously framed and enacted along this line prop cry guar suaro'ng asn,ns. Gmr. 1%use ro,s out s,vins reasonable discretion in a few years would work out the very desirable result of establishing and maintaining good roads in our State. It Is done elsewhere and why can't 1t be done in Alabama?
 William c. Oates.