The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-02
Ti,c uond BiD.

Editor OF The TIMES -pisptnlon HJionld be
Sir.--I do not th 1il kc,aro,ima friend.
or fair to the Senator from Not h,II - =
to leave the much abused ROAD , pa.i 81 %
it is. and will appreciate ~, lne n',rnosa
your columns In discussing &c W e While
and aim of this b.u as ] see II w ny ~
this road problem is 4 knotty tons' W. w,
can't get rid or It, and we hadN JUS. 81
we'll get to work on 1t In earnt,st nao
try to correct some oil tile ms
For twenty years or more We iii ,Si
spent every dollar of the ROAD taA allu
have not made one inch OF R pro- te1s !,
towards permanent road -puiiut fnI the
next twenty years in the same way
the result will be the same. 49,,
Some permanent work ought TO pc
done each year. 10 do TINS, IL VII t,so
quire the united efforts of all and the
burden of taxation should be fairly dis.
tributed. Some of the bad leaks must
be stopped before we can set wy
funds in hand to enable US TO accep.
the offer the State is making IN ana :
ing the counties to build few miles OF
permanent road, which is intended as
an object lesson If this can be done.
and the public made to reaiile lne
great advantages offered them BY good
roads, they will consent to have their
taxes Increased, which VIII be neces-
sary, and will vote intelligently when
the time comes to issue bonds for TINS
purpose. me people WIZ arc pPs pS
most Of the road tax think that some
others are not "toting fair" and that
they are using and abusing the public
highways out of proportion 70 tne
amount OF taxes paid by them for this
purpose.
l will stop here to say that the lum,
bermen of Virginia are as hight toned
class of citizens as there are in TINS
State, or in any other state, and that
when they examine closely into the
merits of this bill and see It's real aim
and object, they will reach the same
conclusion that the lumbermen from
our. neighboring State have done.
roads over which lumber and timber
are hauled will be cut up and will get
in bad condition, and nothing unreason-
able should be expected; but It Is not
fair when an opportunity is offered by
gin plan of permanent ,road-build-
ing, for some lumbermen, before they
have inquired into the real purpose
and aim Of the bill, cry out class
1t is unfortunate for all the people
that politics Will poke It's nose into
everything, and will use as Il cats
paw" certain classes of people to de-
interest. Neither the great lumber
business nor the people who make
their living hauling logs and lumber
will be injured by this bill being made
a law.
The meaning of bill No. 1O6, as l
understand it, is that when owners OF
lumber and timber wagons use and
abuse the public highways to the ex.
tent that they are damaged" and the
public seriously Inconvenience, that
they shall repair them.
This is the construction placed on
the law where it has been in force for
several years.
Various suggestions have been of
farp1 a reliave the situation. The
suggestion of Mr.. Gregory, of Chase
City. is good, but the money raised
by this form of taxation would go
into the general road rund and be.
could get round to this road. the
| fellow In some instances would have
finished his job and moved, and you
would have another complaint tina,
| his $40 has not been of any help to
| him. SO there are many difficultie:
| in the way but we ought not to give
up, but. keep hammering at this CHI
nese puzzle" until it is solved Other
| States are making progress along thi:
| line and Virginia can do likewise.
! If the lumberInen all over the State
who have been so critical, would ge
together and suggest plan of taxa
US all out of the mud, the, farmers
of Southside Virginia will be unde
lasting obligations to them.
This little bill is .intended in NJ
/ sense 10 pc a solution OF lAe Ioat
problem but as 1t was kindly sent u
4 by our North Carolina friend, free o
I charge and ready made" we though
it would come In handy for our law
makers, who are pressed beyond meas
;, ure.
However If this Legislature canno
give this important matter the. atten
tfon 1t deserves, we Will not give uT
but try them again next time:
j. a. HARDY.
Blackstone, Va, Feb. 90, 1908.