The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-04-04
Dissatisfaction Over Last
Road Law Is Apparent All
Over State and Wayne
County Is No Exception.
COL. WILEY SAYS THAT
EPIDEMIC MUST STOP.
Several Townships Are Pre-
pairing Petitions for Roads,
But Some of These Will Be
Fought.

that is TO stop it right now before it
goes any farther, said Col. c. W.
Wiley, of the board of county commits
sioners this morning in speaking OF
the township road building that is ap-
idly becoming general in this county.
Wiley made the remark when told a
number of other townships beside
Washington and Wayne, contemplate
the presentation of petitions for roads.
The petition of Washington township
will be carried to the circuit court for
settlement and as this the initial eff
fort, has begun TO meet with such
strong opposition it is probable the
Dther petitions, either presented or in
state of preparation will meet with
strong resistance.
Petition in Center.
The latest road news comes from
Center township. A petition for a
road is now being circulated and at
the same time the opponents of the
proposition are circulating d remOn-
STRANGE presented against either the
Washington or Wayne township roads.
The Washington township road was
the first TO be sprung in the county
and the time had elapsed before the
residents OF the township who do not
favor the road awOke to what it would
mean to them in the way of additional
TAX TO defray the cost of construction.
They became busy later, however, and
will contest the matter through the
courts. No remonstrance has been
presented against the construction of
South l. street in this city by the
township. Inasmuch as the cast of
this road will not be nearly so large
as that in Washington township and
the fact that the tax valuation of
Wayne township is so high, the one
road will not mean much of an addi-
tionai expense TO the taxpayers. A
half dozen roads, some of which might
prove more expensive would add ma
aerially to the tax rate.
Will Not Submit.
Some of the Center township tax
payers, claim they are not going TO
submit to the proposition. They as
sert they do not care SO much for the
construction of one or two roads
where they are needed badly. but
there is general fear of the precedent.
The law Is such that a three mile road
must be built upon the petition of a
certain number of property owners of
the township, unless demonstrated
against and the remonstrance is up
held by the commissioners.
Commissioner Wiley was in Ran
dolph county Yesterday and took oc-
casion to investigate the road build
ing epidemic that has been experienc-
ed there. He declared the majority
or the tax payers are strongly oppos-
ed to the law as il now exists. The
same feeling is evident in Wells. Madi-
son. Bartholomew and a number of
other counties of the state. Mr.. Wiley
IS of the opinion that protest will be
so general throughout the state hat
the. next legislature will repeal the
law or amend it so as TO limit the num-
Der Of petitions in township and re-
move other objectionable features.
A peculiar situation has develoDed
in Bartholomew county as the result
OF the law. One of the principal
streets of Columbus. the county seat.
extends a little distance beyond the
city limits and into the township. A
petition was presented TO improve This
road under the township law. The
portion that extended through Colum-
bus was paved with brick The entire
township had 10 bear the cost.
Bids to be Opened.
The bids for the construction of the
Washington township road in this
county will be opened by the commits
sioners at their first regular session
OF the term Monday. A telephone
message was received this morning
from a contractor at Columbus, Ind,
stating he would come 10 the city and
present bid The contract will be
awarded, although no work will begin
until after the circuit court has ruled