The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-04
Good Roads.

Good Roads.
Editor OF The Times-D ispatch:
.sir.--The Legislature should devote
$250.0o0 to road Improvement. other
wtac that amount would be less wiseiy
spent or wasted.
The simple passage of the bill wo,iia
increase :, a as. the value q land dollar
progressive, and people would like to
come and live among us. Provisinn
should be made for the effective usa
o, oi - .he -. money, with progressive,
hend t't'A a. ens
The counties will back tho state, and
ssL0O0O0o from both can be raised II
the Legislature will lead out vigor-
In line when they see they are being
Spend the peoples money where i.
pa pays vs. best. II assessors will be guided
next assessment is taken, we shall
md that road Improvement has cost
nothing. We shall see that we still
nave N our lands all the money spent.
TO those who have not given thought
to the subject.
:, y What h DO good roads mean: They
ana b sattsr s sseSes better better
cations. better preaching. II salary
affects quality. better medical atten-
ton. better material conditions, better
HOSidi pIISlleSeS. DeLtET ana happier
homes. They mean ,mmigration-in a
word. they mean prosperity.
There is no room for argument: The
day Tor, discussion has passed; people
over and over. We 's want mt the esa appro ).
priation-discussion afterwards as to
the use OF 1t. But pardon sug-
sestion. We are no extremists; we
macadam roads in day-hardly In a
generation. The way to popularize
the movement Is to adopt a method
that will give general bench, in as
Therefore we think that first the
main roads should all be brought to
low grade with a view to mncadaf,l-
iIing IN the future. The next step
where necessary. and properly to cover
the whole crosslay. which can be done
In q way that VIII prevent jostling or,
1oiting. and will make thSsimprove-
pudding viii be necessary OH other
portions. and simply shaping Ns aud
draining on Very large proportions
of them Will finish the road. All this
work provides the proper grade. and
improves the foundation for the fnnse
cadam. The advantage OF this method
iirst-class dirt roads. and it WIN pre-
faction.
You cannot popuIarizc tie movement,
to the people at large in reasonably
short time. What folly 1t was not ~
have started this work long ago. when
labor was cheap and abundant. The
people were deaf to all appeals to
advance their own interests and to
promote their own comfort. Until the
people grasp the situation. their con-
dition VIII be dsplorable. Our lands
are already passing out OF the hands
OF our own people. Unless they wake
up and give more Intelligent atten.
ton To their own interests. they will
soon be hired laborers. filling the land
they once possessed.
large revenue of the State be spent
and nothing be done for tho benefit
of the people at large.
Those who control the States pol
Icy must care for the individual citi-
zen, otherwise they will lose their grip.
pie are taxed about what they are
able to bear, If they see no compen-
sating returns.
If ali who appreciate the value of
| good roads will unite in their Efforts
there will be no lack of money TO
1 do the work, and we will all he con-
tented and happy.
themselves the legislature Will re-
ury. but VIII not be there long.
| Let the taxpayer who has produce
to market and teams to struggle
of stone and logs--thc so-called re-
| pairs-be heard from.
/ Let every Intelligent citizen express
s,mself without delay on this vital
~ 'tion. II. c. RICE.
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