The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1907-10-10
Our Public Forum
More About the Road Problem.
Editor of the Bossier Banner, Benton La.

Editor of the Bossier Banner Benton, La.
l noticed in your issue of Sept. 20 an article
signed by Mr.. ]. w. Elston, of Haughton, entitled
"Our Road System" l am thoroughly in accord
with Mr.. Elston, that Something must be done''
in connection with our parish roads. Also, that
we are not getting the best results for the money
expended.
| regret exceedingly the high rate of taxes we
have been paying for road improvement, of which
the annual appropriation made by the Police Jury
is small part when one takes into consideration
the large amount of money expended for the care
and keep OF necessary horses, wear and tear on
wagons, etc., necessitated by the surfaces and
grades of our roads. This latter kind of taxation
the worst possible kind and the poorest economy
owing to the fact that it is entirely dead loss
am in favor of reducing this form of taxation and
increasing the former until we get system of
roads which can be kept in order by minimum
amount of labor, and over which it won't take
taoo horses to pull a horse load!
This question of heavy hauling is as direct tax
upon the people as would be real tax through the
legal channel. In fact, worse one, as no record
is kept of it. Judging from the experience of
other communities, it amounts to more than all
other taxes put together. Therefore, am in favor
of changing our form of taxation so that every
penny paid out will go to road improvement, and
eliminate the heavy -haulin5 tax. This can be done
and is done in hundreds of cases where the people
have awakened to a realization of what the heavy
hauling tax means.
know of good land suitable for truck farming,
four or five miles from railroad stations, which
would be worth 100 per cent more, and in some
cases even more than that, it the road were in
good enough condition to permit transportation of
truck to the railroad station without running it,
believe it would be wise for the Police Jury
before taking any action leading to change in
our present road system to carefully estimate what
has been done in other communities, especially in
the eastern Southern States, where the problems
are similar to ours. 1t would be wise thing for
one of our Police Jurors to pack their grips
and go Cat the expense of the parish) on visit to
some region where road building has been made a
of raising the funds
Having had some experience in road building
and making study of how best to do it, l could
name communities, and would willingly do so,
which have road problems similar to ours where
they have been successfully solved. I have had
the honor upon several occasions of appearing
before the Police Jury on this road question, and
have made suggestions which, when tried, proved
beneficial. And stand ready to put my shoulder
to the wheel and open my pocketbook for the cause
of good roads, providing the work is done along
some well recognized, successful system of road
making. What we need is not temporary allevia-
ton from direct tax, but permanent relief from the
heavy hauling tax, which is costing this parish
thousands of dollars every year, from which no
permanent good is derived.
This road question is worthy of careful study,
and would advise thorough investigation before
any change is made, lest We jump from the frying
pan into the fire! Yours very respectfully,
LOUIS G. BULKLEY.
Avalon Farm, Sept 80, 1907.