The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-27

The Subject OF Good Roads Will Not
Down. Our Correspondents Sus-
qests a Plan. Wants the People to
Rouse up and Adopt a Better Sys-
tenn. A Thrifty Flock of Sheep.
Etc, Etc.
King George Co Va Feb. -, 1904
What ails King Gsorge2 Lack Of en-
terprise? Surely the cold snap has froE.
en- the vitality out of people generally.
surely we should not let the appearance
of Mr.. Ground Hog on one T our bright
est days discourage us and dash our
hopes of an early spring away and iol-
low him back for another alternating
period, but rouse up and think OF what
privileges we enjoy and what we might
have and ought to have, and Will have.
il we exert ourselves little more anc
cooperate for promotion OF individual
good. which must be beneficial to the
Dnblic. The old song OF what wasgood
enough for my grandfather will do iO.
me 4" has no tune. times have changed
and we are now to make a forward, pro-
gressive and aggressive march TO reach
the front and stay there. The time OF OK
carts and bad roads over which they
slowly dragged their weary way has pass.
ed and we are using horses and wagons
for draught purposes, and on Sundays
mot so wearied with the use OF improved
farm machinery for labor saving want
to take q spin" on the road with bug
Qies and carriages, the constantly in.
creasing numbers OF which demand
good roads. Why can't we have them
The main reason is we don't contract
with an efficient man, who shall make
that his business and give constant at
tentioD; bonded to do the wors thor
oughly and paid promptly for his ser
vices. Our read laws heretofore have
been such that only anominal service was
given. and that rated at such per diem
that practically no permanence was Sc
cured. the contractor making enough
between times to pay his taxes, and the
farmer who undertook TO haul over the
roada had to either mend for himself or
nae extra horse power at increased cost.
We submit plan in use in another State,
a similar plan also being adopted in
(iuiford county, \ G, some years ago.
ior using a road machine. special
county tax OF o cents per $4,000 being
levied and a competent foreman EN-
Moved who could straighten crooks, re-
move stumps, etc, at 81 30 per day a
driver at 81 90 per day, extra day labor
era at Is cents. In many places the farm'
era gave assistance by blowing drains,
a half or a whole day, sometimes putting
in two additional horses, the county
owning four, and it was wonderful ia
see what improvement was made in two
years at a small cost. This Is a subject
not only of county and State, but oi
national Importance, ard we see II
being constantly agitated and let Us con
tribute our mite, and benedts will &C
crue at home and perhaps from abroad
by inducing immigration. We need not
wait for our Legislature to enact speeia
laws for the State. Let each county
have a road law adopted to its needs, al
what suits In one place may not II
another, local conditions and tempera
ments being so diverse.
(The article referred to follows this let
teri
We are glad to soc the defeat OF tn
law to allow one (D dog to family, tn
only gain being the re election OF som
members aud theioss many times almos
irreparab,e, crippling the sheep industry
the most profitable with our worn land
and scarcity Of labor, any one being abe &
tend them, and the loss OF revenue woul'
he considerable from a source causing NJ
burden,
After heavy rain we now have brigh