St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1909-02-06
1 alatuaug far,uer.
satul ", February 6. 1903.
SHALL cUR-RoADs BE IMPROVED

llds Deen the most perpleXing and veXatlous
problem with which the Police Jury has had
20 contend and the failure of its solution
mas SUBJECTED the members to criticism that,
Wnlle It may be unmerited, is none the less
attractive of attention and comment
It will hardly be maintained that there
are any members who would not be pleased
70 see the parish honeycombed with good
roads. much less any who would oppose
progress in that direction but it is evident
that a lack of good judgment has impeded
progress, and that the failure of the men,
bers at the last meeting to grasp the oppor-
tunlty offered by the bid Of Mr. Tynes was
q blunder that will meet the disapproval of
those who are close observers and 'whe con-
denim the prevalent system of road-working
Mr.. Iynes is a responsible contractor, IA
nlllar with his business and ready to give
bond for faithful performance of his duty,
and proposed to build and keep the roads
IN good condition for four years for the sum
or $4,000 per mile, work subject to inspec-
ton and approval This proposition was
voted down, the only members in favor of
giving the work out by contract being Geo.
koepp, Jr., of the First ward, ]. ]. Cusachs
OF the Seventh and B. A. Schneider of the
Eighth
An unsatisfactory feature Of the situation,
and one that should have made welcome
enced in apportioning the road fund among
the different wards so as to make an equita-
BILE distribution of the fund, by reason of
the inequality in mileage and character of
work to be performed, and the improbability
that any satisfactory system will ever be
devised.
Under agreement between the members
short time back the different wards were
punched into one fund, which was to be
drawn against as sparingly as possible for
necessary repairs, with result that a few
wards swallowed up the whole fund and
have now to face the difficulty of returning
the excessive amounts used and at the same
time maintaining their roads with depleted
fund, while others are SO far overdraWn
4 that the deficit will not be made up for a
year to come.
Among those who discountenanced award
ing by contract and who voted to continue
the old system of woodworking were mem
bers of wards whose funds will be INSULT
Gent to keep their roads in repair, and who
thus have unaccountably deprived them
selves of an opportunity to secure to their
wards equally the benefits that would have
accrued
The view entertained by some that the
awarding by contract will deprive home peo-
pie of labor they are justly entitled to is
wrong, for the reason that good roads will
increase the earning capacity of every
farmer in the parish, decrease his expenses
and benefit him far beyond the amount
earned in shoveling dirt on the roads, not
taking into consideration the increased value
in property; nor will the giving out of the
work by contract prevent home people from
bidding If they desire to do so.
To show the handicapped condition of
some of the wards in the maintenance of
their roads for the coming year the follow
ing figures will be interesting:
On January l, 1909, the First ward had to
its credit $626.04, the Third $607.95, the
Fourth $60l.81, the Sixth 1896. Is, the Sew
enth 1851. So, the Ninth $1038.59. The Sec
ond ward has deficit to make up of $780,
3d. the Fifth $753. "a, the Eighth $1306. Is.
There is now in bank $4,000 to the credit of
the fund which is to be pro rated to the diff
ferent wards and out of which the deficits
are to be made good, which will leave some
of the wards scarcely any working fund for
the coming year.
It is useless to mince matters. A free and
open discussion and public interest in the
affairs of our parish is the only way in which
we will ever accomplish any good or open
the door to reforms that are necessary to it's
welfare. 1t has been suggested in low tones
that Wasteful use of the road funds is
the giving out of Merk to those who are in
HuenGlal III caSLlnS DallOCS, ana IIlaL LnlS
custom has produced an inferior class of
labor, depending for security of position not
upon the amount of labor performed but
upon trustworthiness at the time of election
There is probably no member who has not
at some time had hints that. this feeling pre-
vailed, and it is also probable that each
member will Indignantly deny that he has
been actuated by any such motive in giving
out work. Yet the fact remains that the
road overseer appointed in each ward will
be found to be political supporter of the
member in his ward and whether intention
ally or unintentionally condition has been
created which gives rise to the suggestion.
Such being the fact, it becomes evident that
The present system of woodworking can
never attain the best results physically nor
be conducive to healthy moral sentiment.
Practical demonstration proves that the
best road conditions are found in those sec
tons where thetwork is given out by con-
tract, and it is with knowledge of this
fact that Governor Sanders is to-day at
tempting to formulate feasible plan for
bodybuilding, to awaken interest and encour-
ace each parish to further pursue a system
that will ultimately secure good roads
throughout the State; and If he is success
fnl in his effort it will add to his renown
greater than any Of his official acts We
Il Il 4