The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1907-08-16
.0H|O'S ROADS
Are Gradually improving,
Even Without SYstem-
attic Work.
EXPECT BETTER RESULT

| by the state, whereby one good road
might be built, say from the Ohio
river to the lakes, or from Indiana to
Pennsylvania, but by fits and jerks the
counties and the farmers of Ohio are
making Improvements, and some day,
may be, there will be good roads all
over the state. II course, much Of the
money now being spent is being
thrown away, practically, for a mile
or two of road is improved and the
remainder is untouched; and by tho
time the other part is improved the
part just built will be sadly In need
of attention.
For instance, last year the cash
expenditures on Ohio's roads was
IS, 7OG, 900. What could be done with
this sum II It were expended entirely
under state supervision without local
supervision, can be imagined; but the
good 1t has done has been widely
scattered, and the work in Ohio can
be said to have only been fairly
started.
CONlHACIS AXE LEI.
This year contracts have already
been let for the improvement OF
twenty.three roads, and there is ono
contract advertised. These include
one short stretch OF brick road IN
Columbiana county, mile stretch in
Muskingum county, and a mile and
half In Tuscarawas county. These
improvements are all under the state
law whereby the state pays 25 per
cent Of the cost.
Many counties are tagging In the
procession for good roads. Franklin
is among them, and Richland, Ash.
land, Wayne, Holmes and Summit are
also said to be behind the times.
Franklin Is the worst instance of a
county with the number of automo.
blles II contains, for the auto men
have been busy in most other places
and have by united efforts greatly
improved conditions. In Montgomery
county, for instance, where there arc
1000 miles OF roadway, 700 miles are
already improved-665 miles with
gravel and 35 miles with stone. The
roads have cost a mint Of money.
the expenditures during the past year
having been 100000.
WILL SPEND 100000
The twenty-three contracts men
toned are for new roads. Thirty.
three counties will improve old roads
Lucas county will spend 100000 on
stone roads this year. The work VIII
commence at the corporation line Of
Toledo and extend as far In the
as the funds will take II. The
combined expenditures In Franklin,
Highland, Tgscarawas and
counties. will be but
500, 600
Frori all parts OF the state come re.
ports that the old poll tax Of SO per
year or in lieu thereof two days work
On the public roads, is being collected
more asiduously than ever before,
and this will result IN some improve
ments Of course. Added to this Is the
thousands and thousands OF dollars
being expended In the improvement !
of city streets.
More attention is being given to
road repairing than In the past, and
one OF the best plans is said to be IN
use around Wauseon, where light |
drag scrapers, which can be pulled by |
one team, have been distributed at |
various points about the township, so
when road needs repairing II can be |
done without the expense and loss OF |
lime OF moving the scraper from point |
10 point.
REBUILD NATIONAL PIKE.
In spite of the good work being
done, good roads advocates are await. |
ng the time when sentiment will |
have been worked up which will en-
lble the state 10 start In on a road at
)ne end OF the state and follow II
through 10 the other. There is still |
talk of rebuilding the |
amous old National road, but the |
,oncensus of opinion seems to be that |
congress should do this, building II
lnew from one end to the other and
making II as famous as an artery as
/ was years ago.
The Joint committee OF the state
,oard OF commerce and the state
range is receiving answers from
,ounty officers, township trustees and
range men in regard TO the proposed
,hange OF the state law in regard TO
he distribution OF the expenses OF
lew roads and improvements. The
Id law and the proposed changes are;
Old Prop'd.
70 be paid by state...... 25 DO
20 be paid by county. ..... 80 30
20 be paid by township. 10 10
70 be paid by abutting
property ........,....,. 10 III
State Highway Commissioner Hus'
on favors the changes except as 10
he county and property holder. He
kinks the county's share should be
made 10 per cent. as II now is, and
hat the county should pay but 25
Ier cent, instead OF 80. as proposed.
An Everlasting Fabric.
The Russians manufacture a fabric
rom the fber OF nlamentous stone
rom the Siberian mines which is said
o be OF so durable nature that II is