The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-20
FREDERICKSBURG, Va, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20 1904
IMPROVEMENT OF PUBLIC
ROADS.

A Plan For Putting Them In Order
And Keeping Them in Good condi-
tion.
Port Royal, Va, Feb 18th, 1904
To The Free Lance
Having seen several articles during the
past year on the subject Of good roads.
aud Of public meetings. TO dbcuss the
problem Of how To improve the hish
ways, have failed 10 gee any practical
plan whereby our Virginia roads could
be materially improved.
Thinking that it might be proper and
possibly OF importance enough to attract
the attention of our law makers at
Richmond, wish to outline what TO me
is "a practical plan of improving the
highways Of Virginia, without becoming
burden TO the farmers and tax payers
generally.
First. The conditions OF the highways
need changed condition OF wagon tires.
No load exceeding a thousand pounds
should be allowed TO go over the roads
on wagon not having tire on its
wheels OF less than four ~ inches 10
width To bring this about, with the
least hardship to theisrmer, lumberman
and Others engaged in heavy trucking, |
would remit tax Of two dollars per
year Tor two or three years TO every own.
er OF wagon having f0ur-inch tire;
and in cases Of lumbermen owning rev.
eral wagons. would remit four dollars
of his tax the first year for each wagon
40 tired, aud for this favored benefit in
remttiog his tax the lirst year, ! would
rtqnire him to put on the four inch tire
within thirty days from notice Of the
passage OF the law requiring wagons for
heavy teaming to have four-iLch tires.
Second. There should be a commits
sioner Of highways for each msgisterial
district. elected by the people oi their
district, whose salary should be two
dollars per day. when actually superyis-
ing road work Said commissioner
should give e good and sufficient bond
for all moneys coming into his hands,
and should be held accountable for said
money TO County or State Board OF
Road Commissioners. This commits
eioner should be empowered TO administer
oaths. and take sworn voucher for oil
material and labor furnished for the
highway under his supervision, these
vouchers TO be examined and approved
by the county or State Board, and pub.
lished ia "A local paper.
Third. Having q. tabliehed a law and
occurred competent commissioner OF
highways for zach magi-terial district, IL
should be their duty 10 l-v-l thu roads
when sidliog-to drain the m by suhstan-
tial sluices and drains. 40 that M water
would remain on them after n rain-to
cut and remove oil bru-h and timber
within the road limits, ami finally to zee
that the four inch tire law was implied
with tn the letter; ali THE wou seem.
inRly te within the reRch 0f the PEOPLE,
without taxing tO the extent Il hecom-
Jog hardship With q practical man
for commissioner, much could hs done
10 improve the grades oi hills, 0nd when
fnnds were available. gravel or oiher ma
terial could be put on To improve places
in the roads that are known to ct soft
in wet seasprs
The wide tire once inaugura'ed. the
sluices, grading and drainage establish
ed, Virginia would, in my opinion, zee an
improvement ia its roads OF inestimable
value.
Very respectfully.
o J. Jennings.