The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-01-09
THE ROAD MEETING
Spotsylvanians Show Great Inter-
est-Plans For Improving
Highways Discussed.
FORMER ROAD LAWS REPEALED

Amid plenty Of mud and along a road
with many deep holes at different points
representative OF this paper went TO
Spotsylvania Monday to attend the
good road meeting SO extensively adver-
tised in the past month.
There were present probably 80 peo.
pie, majority OF whom were earnest
advocates OF a betterment OF roads. but
there were some who. while they wanted
better roads, are unwilling to toe taxed
Tor the improvement and are satisfied to
let conditions remain.
lt was - O'Clock when Delegate C.
OConor Goodrich raped the meeting to
order. announced that Senator +. W.
Sims was unavoidably absent. and ask.
ed that some gentleman be named to
preside Mr.. Manlius +. Waite, who for
years has been fighting for better roads.
was unanimously elected as chairman,
and X NJ. Waller as secretary. Chair
man Waite thanked the assent lage for
the honor and stated purpose of meet
lng de was glad to see Delegate Cool
rick present and evincing so much inter-
est IN the road question; the people
should let him know what they want so
he can act intelligently and not be ham
pered in the Legislature.
Mr.. Goodrich was then called upon and
presented three bills, one for tbs repeal
oil the Biscoe boundary act of Spotsyl-
venia county, stating there were certain
legal detects in the bill and that in his
opinion the general State boundary act.
providing the manner in which each
magisterisl district should bond itself.
was lar preferable; the second one re-
peaiing the present county road law.
leaving the county to work under the
general road law, known as the Edmon-
ston Act, aud one providing for board
oil public roads to handle the funds from
any bond issue for permanent improve
ment and TO have charge OF the improve
ment, said board to be composed Of four
freeholders TO be appointed by the Cir
cult Court. Mr.. Goolrick stated that he
had prepared the provision for a board
OF public roads by a request OF a number
oil citizens of the county in order that the
meeting might pass upon it, as the ques-
ton OF having board was entirely for
them to decide.
Mr.. Goodrich read his bill as proposed.
which provided for the work t. be done
under Edmondson bill or State law. Ii
provived Tor bonding OF county by a ma
lorlty vote OF the people and an election
ordered by petition from the board of
supervisors TO the Circuit Court.
Each magisterial district can be bond
ed by the citizens Of that magisterial dis
trict Tor Improvement in that ma1isterial
district and they are TO pay the tax for
same, but the whole county must vote
20 give said magisterial district said right
In order to make bonds valid.
MIR. X. l.. Biscoe offered an amendment
that instead OF the petition being made
by the board OF supervisors TO the Cir.
cclt Court that 20 freeholders of any
magisterial district are entitled to max,
such petition.
At this stage Mr.. 7. Il. Harris present
ed bill prepared by him. This bill in
the main was along the lines of that pre-
sented by Mr.. GOolrick. IL differed iu
this particular; Ii provided for compul.
sorry use OF broad tires and making the
tax rate 40 cents on the 500, instead OF
20 as now.
At this Supervisor Waite arose and
said, Mr.. Harris, that kills your bill. -
which was greeted with much applause.
Mr.. Harris said. IAN am after is TO get
a good road system"
The amendment as offered by Mr.. Bis
coe was passed without IA dissenting
vote and all the former road laws were
repealed. 1t looks like this meeting Is an
advanced step and will be productive of
good results.