The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-12-03
FREDERIOKsBURG VA THURSDAY, DECEMBER g. 1908
SP0TSYLvANIA ROADS
An Open Letter TO the s9i Voters Whose Names
arc on the Poll Books Of SpotsylyanIs County


We shall soon hear sgaln the cry OF
bad roads. During the two years now
closing since @ simple, plain aud inexpen.
sive plan Tor putting In condition and
m aintalning good dirt roads, county
supervisors have spent the seven thous-
and that was collected fJrroad purposes.
One OF the gentlemen reported In open
meeting five miles OF good polled road, "
none OF the other members reported a
single mile OF good road. DO you think
this Is what We want 10 st about
GOO dollars q mile to make pOlled roads,
that last from five to ten years. We
want good roads. Do we? We want
good homes, good crops, good stock; all
there things cost labor care and cOntin-
uous effort. Building five miles II pol cd
roads year (Or b. stems I've miles In
two year-) would take long time aud
large sum oi moaey for tbs one hundred
miles vi main highway, besides the three
hundred miles Ui other public roads In
the county. II the people OF the county
want the advantage of good roads they
will make an Effort TO get them.
Now for the first step During the few
lsisure days in December. gin by max
ing or buying "a road drag aud drag
your Dad from your barn TO the public
roa !; do this, wet and dry, every spare
time uutil Il II eren and smooth with no
mud holes, no stumps or large stones
and the water drained away. This Will
give you practice during December. Jan
uary and February. Begin with March
and drag one eide OF the public road as
far as your land fronts on the road
This " i'll make K jOd road mau OF you.
Next, urge your superintendent to let
you have five miles Of road To drag and
Keep Ia condition for six dollar a mile
1t will be his business toput 10 ell ditches,
drains, culverts and ill the low places to
a gra ie, build and keep in condition all
bridges, now this provides Tor good dirt
roads over the county. In many places
where the drag system is in operation
the cost OF keeping in condition the
dirt loads Is not over one dollar and
fifty cents mile for s whole year. Each
voter should make it his business to urge
the supervisor Tor bis district 70 require
license tax on all wagons hauling
heavy material over the roads and not
using broad tires on the wagon whe IL.
Nothing will roll a road bed Ike broad
tire on a wagon wheel. This PROPOSE
ton has already been offered your board
OF supervisors.
The bond Issue, just lew words; Il
you want what i. known as permanent
roads, for every dollar you raise for the
purpose the State offers to add forty
cents. thus giving one dollar aud forty
cents for building roads of Stone or
gravel, which with small regular repairs
will be as good twenty years alter tha
building as when first made. II you
own real and personal property worth
one thousand dolars your road tax Is
two dollars. Who would not rather
pay several times this sum for a road
that be could use at any time IN the
D ear?
The jail our supervisors purpose build
ing, five thousand dollar i4ii. We raise
for road purposes thirty-fye hundred
dollars a year. We rsi.e for county fund
something over five thousand dollars
shall this be put into iaii2 M, and it
Ia up to you as taxpayers 10 Object to it
Five hundred dollars will DO all nesces-
sary repairs to the jail for many years
A jail Is not an honor or an ornament
1t Is a Disgrace and is intended for punish
ment Tor wrong doers The iies Of build
log foe jail is ridicnlous beyond de-
scrlption. Your brick jail with good
slate roof is good enough Tor ANY
gentleman or rascal who will pass
through your county until you get better
roads. Put the iorty.fiye hundred dol
lars 10 road making machinery. That
II horse sense.
Yours Tor good roads,
Thomas II. Harris.
Dec. 1st, 1908.