The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1907-10-31
Our Public Forum
OUR ROAD PROBLEM.

"Let US try the experiment, said one of
our Police Jurors at recent meeting, re-
ferring to change in the method of work.
ing our roads. This change to be made to
reduce expenses is likely to defeat its pur-
pose if it INDUCES in experiments, for it is
we'll known fact that experiments are
costly. There is no necessity of our trying
new schemes, as our road problems are not
difficult, and are of easy solution. Similar
problems have been successfully met and
solved in other communities, and the
records Of cost and the roads themselves
are open for our instruction. "He who
runs may read
Take, for instance, the roads in Richland
County, S. G. In 1902 they had built 400
miles of sand-clay roads out Of a total Of
$50 miles in the county. O6ome of these
roads have had recently to be surfaced
with metal, because with ease of transport
tation the county has grown to be a fine
truck district and is now more thickly
populated. 1t would be well for COM
mittee from our Police Jury to so there
and study the situation. There are a
number Of other places where we could
get many valuable points, and it would be
money we'll invested for US to go and profit
by the fruits of their experiments.
Another idea. 1t seems that now, under
the present method, that it is the duty of
each Police Juror to have charge of road
construction in his respective ward, and,
from my observation, they fulfil this duty
in a conscientious manner. If the tax
payers have any objections, it's sup to
them to correct it; for the Police Jurors
do not profess to be road supervisors.
Those to whom | have talked would gladly
shift this responsibility to the shoulders of
a paid and trained supervisor, and con-
slider that such a person would be a most
economical addition to the force. 1t mat
ters not whether the appropriation for
roads is S., 900 or S25, 900 year, trained
road supervisor could more than save his
salary, and would relieve the Police Jury
of the extravagant expenditure Of time in
dealing with a matter they have no special
training or fitness for. | believe that a
competent supervisor who could handle
our problem and make the best disposition
of whatever appropriation we could make
could be employed for the same money
we now pay our road foremen. A man
who understands surveying and leveling-
the primary necessity in the simplest road
problem-would avoid handling too much
dirt, or handling it twice, as we are now
frequently doing, it can readily be seen,
, would save US much needless expense.
. Take as an instance the new steel culverts
5 just being put in. I'll venture to say We'll
wake up after the next heavy rain to find
, some of those culverts in the adjoining
field or some distance down the branch
And simply because the technical knoWl-
l edge to determine the waterfowl was lack
2 ing when they were put in place. This
: point and similar small details need con-
: sideration in. successful and economical
$ road making. And it is in little matters OF
r this kind where we have been ''pennywise
: and pound FOOLISH
Still another, idea. Each of our repai.
outfits is pretty well equipped with road
t building machinery, the majority Of which
e is entirely to heavy for repair work; in
fact, hardly at all adapted to mending use
If a road is properly built it should only
need light repairs; not entire rebuilding
which is the only thing possible with these
heavy tools. AS one Of the Police Jurors
p remarked at the last meeting, the cost O
}. moving this kind of outfit from place K
. place is factor CT expense which coule
o. and should be eradicated.
. In conclusion: Experiment? Never
: Not while we have such good example!
within reach as have already been made il
various parts Of the country. Profit by thu
dearly bought experiences of our neigh
: bors? Yes; every time we can.
e Yours very truly,
: OTIS O. RJJKIEY