Mexico weekly ledger., 1906-12-27
FAVOR PERMANENT
ROAD IMPROVEMENT
And a Reformation of State Reve.
nue. System for Better Roads in
Missouri-Good Roads Conven-
ton Will Bring Results.

The afternoon session Of the Good
Roads Convention held in the Opera
House Saturday, was both well at
tended and highly enthusiastic. The
drift OF all the different lectures and
talks was toward q permanent state
appropriation; and a reformation Of
the present revenue system SO as to
bring about an increase Of taxation,
both 10 the rate and subjects Of taxa
tion.
The convention was entirely bar
monlous and from the spirit shown
good results will undoubtedly follow.
These meetings, held throughout the
state, under the auspices Of the State
Board OF Agriculture, have awakened
the public to the urgent need for bet
ter highways and that there are RENE
dies for the present system, which,
II properly gone about, can be OBJ
tained.
The afternoon session was presided
over by Hon. George Robertson. Hon.
, Walter Williams, Of Columbia, ap-
peared on the afternoon programme
instead Of at night as advertised. lie
expressed himself as being strongly IN
favor of reformation Of the revenue
system OF the state. He showed that
a road fund could be made by taxing
some OF the many sources OF revenue
in Missouri, which have never been
touched: for example, corporate fran.
!, chises.
Prof. E. P. Spaulding, Of the state
University, in his address, dwell
mainly on the bridge and culVer'
question and by comparing the COST
/. and length Of usefulness OF the ordi
nary wooden culvert with the cost anc
long life OF the concrete culvert
! showed the superiority and economy O.
the latter. He advocated a Stat'
: Road Engineer, who would at al
times be ready to furnish specihca
tious for bridges, c%ulverts, and al
other road work.
Judge Hairston, of Fayette, In hi
. forceful address, also favored a pei
manent state appropriation Tor ID
/. roads. as we'll as reformation OF I'd
tax system. He compared missouri
roads to those of other states In 10
IL middle west whose rates of taxatlo
were higher and showed how lmpoSs
se ble it is to get good roads 10 NILSSON
le under the present revenue system d
favored some plan by which all coui
Ties in the state could work harmon
:, y ously for the common good. =,
The general discussions openea
Chairman Robertson we're OF nut
,g interest and brought forth maj
as valuable suggestions
BEFORE adjourning the conVen'i'
% aaopted the following resolutions;
in MEXICO Mo December "a lsVv,
Resolved, That we, citizens Oh M
/, %sourI, assembled in Mexico oonVen.i'
December %, 1906, favor such acti'
nv the forty.fourth General Assem-
as will give US some form Of Sta.e a. |.
Ire and will confer on County Courts =
les -, 10 levy a reasonable road a
bridge tax at their discretion.
We also favor state SUPERVISION
'op oor roads and suggest that this W.
'u' he dome under the direction OF :
college of Agriculture, the Ooll sos
mt Civil Engineering and the STATE Due
mo of Agriculture. tho, RI
We further recommend tnaV II
overseers be required to publish i.
taired accounts of their recelp'I a. :
Gee ,s. expenditures on the first day oil &c
Der Of each year
nt'sl ALEX CARTER
SUI d. W. KING.