The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1904-07-01
OUR ROADS.

What is the matter with our roads!
Is II bad location, bad system, bad
work, or what is it? We often hear
it said that roads ought to be work
ed by taxation. We agree that this
rs correct, provided we can get suf-
ficient money to keep the roads IL
good condition; but we are already
taxed to the Constitutional limit, =
and haven't money enough to hX
even the worst places. Shall be
bond the county? That can only be
done by vote of the taxpayers OF
the county, and then it would pos
sibly, at the present valuation OF
LAoperty, take all the money that
can possibly be raised by taxation To
| pay the interest on the bonds and
provide sinking fund as provided
by law to pay of the bonded indebt-
edness, leaving little or nothing TO
| keep the roads and bridges in re-
pair after built.
But what are we to do at the
present time? If reports are true
cur roads are in fearful condition,
and If anyone doubts these reports
| let him get In a buggy and drive
mile out of town, or let him drife
half dozen miles on any road in the
county, and be convinced. We re-
Gently heard a resident of the coun-
" say that we rival the state OF
Minnesota, which boasts of having
within her bounds ten thousand
lakes; that we, with much smaller
TERRITORY, nave more than ten thous-
and lakes in our public highways,
which in deepness and rugged ap-
proach excel the lakes of that IA
nous northern state. If our high
ways can not be used for the pur-
: poses originally intended, why not
call the U. S. Fish Commissioner S
attention to our lakes and have
them stocked with fish? Think OF
the boys throughout the county sit
4 lting by the wayside catching tine
, bass and salmon, within few miles
. of the county seat, A number oil
good wagons have been broken In
S these bad holes, lakes, pools, these
swamps or whatever you want &c
!. call them. Men and women have
e had to leave their buggies and wade
out of these places. This condition
/. of our roads in midsummer is IN
J. excusable and getting to be dnbear
: able. No wonder the people com
t plain of business being dull, NheI
the farmers can not get to town wit
: a wagon-they are not provide
:, with boats. What is the cause o
It our present bad roads? Is it wan
e of efficient overseers? If so the
II should be changed at any cost. |
it bad system? If so 1t should ?
1t blotted out. If our overseer canno
keen up the roads in whole votin
e precinct, give us more overseers an
d smaller road precincts. We hea
S men from all parts of the count
say that the present system q
r working roads is failure and IT,
IS condition the roads are in proves i
Why stick to that which is pos
i. tive failure? The old way was ba
o, | enough; but give us an oversee
n over every three miles of road an
G. allot to him the hands living alcn
lg that road. Direct them In a pos
ir tive manner to repair all the ba
plaees within week and 1t Will !
e, done. The next week you can driN
@ over any of our roads without brea
Mt ing your carriage or being covere
with mud. A small part OF the 81
re being paid to the present oyersee
would pay the expense OF appoln
ing the new ones. The remalnd'
could be spent to an advantage
making necessary culverts. We al
in up against conditions woefully ba
by Those In control of public anal
nd should give relief at once, or a
n knowledge their inability TO col
ut with the situation.
IL However. It is not our desire
IS critlclse. A suffering public wan
O. relief Give II, and praise VIII tai
the place OF criticism.
"a. L NIiI,n..