The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1907-07-19
GOODlROADS.
The Important Subject Handled
by an Expert.

done to arouse public sentiment in
many counties OF Eastern Kentucky.
While We feel a deeper concern in the
roads Of our own respective counties,
YET If we ever attain the point of
having good public highways We must
move the whole state 10 action. As /
have already stated this must be a
state Tight nor with swords aud
spears but with letters Of wisdom
knowledge aud truth, embossed with
the golden sheckels reaped from the
savings Of good roads.
feel hesitancy in speaking upon
2 question OF such great moment to
every citizen Of this Commonwealth
a question that directly appeals to ev-
ers one. both male and female. white
or colortd and being assured that
1eat achievements have been
ought and nations turned upor the
thoughts Of some humble citizen why
not Others
i is not my intention in this to
discuss the technical details of road
building although that is a subject Of
gseat moment, even to the present
hour although it was properly de-
aned seven hundred years prior to the
Christian era. rs the prophet who
loried out Make straight in the de,
srrt highway for our God Every
valley shall be exalted and every
mountain and Hill shall be made low
Bd the crooked shall be made
uraisht and the rough places plain
Here Is a specification that our pres
eat day road builders might study
with profit
sun. II lsalahs knowledge Of road
] building is not to your liking. orr
Uncle sam is in the road business, too
ana We trust will go In, in good dead
earnest aiding states and counties,
lot only by handing out the lat
ter day Specifications and building OBJ
ieci lesson roads but by large ap-
preparations aiding states and ooun-
ties in their work This is no farm
ers dream. and II the voters demand
Il. they can get IL But national aid !
thing OF the future. Let US con
slider how We stand at home, and 10
! do this | attach hereto summary OF
our road laws. our resources, and the
{ number OF miles OF road to be work
ed A careful study of these figures
, viii convince any mind that We need
j new system OF laws. and must have
them before our cherished wants can
be supplied.
There is. according to the best in
( formation that can be had, about 81
Opo miles of road in the state OF Ken
5 lucky or these. there is about $500
miles OF Macadam and gravel known
b as improved roads Many OF the lat
ter. or improved roads. have been
I luilt and maintained by turnpike com
panies. while some have been con,
a aructed by the county from funds
+ raised from the bond issue 1t is vel
to state before going further that
g the above estimates are in a meas.
: IRE guess work. as few of The
counties OF the state have any sys-
tenn OF road statistics, road surveys
or county maps, or expense accounts
! Thu only legal resources for road pur
poses in this state is levy OF >;
! cents on the 500 dollars worth d
n property for counties under thre,
!, million taxable property 4 road an'
!, bridge tax OF not TO exceed 81 30 ma,
= he levied on each male citizen be
tween S and 80 wears OF age.
Vow. my interested reader. l hay,
given you the foregoing facts tha
l. Won NAY see what an enormous sun
j Of money is expended each year OF
st our public WAYS, and yet have prac
Il ucnny no roads So, il is clear i,
T the minds OF all, that We have no
4 sufficient revenue for road oonstruc
IS ton. or that our revenues and 9th
N cr available resources are wasted il
+ graft or in bad construction. whicl
l. IS the inevitable fruits OF an un
trained mind We fully understan,
4 that the Anticipated or anjedeluviaI
; system Of warning out the hands
is of little READ value to the road sys
tenn Of any county. and all lovers o
good roads andtheir far-reaehing ef
fects should oppose such a system an,
Milan for things better and more \
accord with the times You frequent
It " hear II remarked that Kentucky
: is fifty years behind the times. o
v course and will continue tagging. lal
after lap. until she can have per
q tect system OF public highways wMol
l. is next to the soil itself in productive
ness. next to the schools as an ed
: ucaor and only less than the di
vine Church as blessing of Gods
love. Yours,
For better system
tie be continuedl
nanny MAN