The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-01-22
Oppose County Road System.

county, the proposition to bond the
county next spring for the purpose
of establishing comprehensive sys-
tenn of good roads will be ignomini-
ously defeated.
The reasons for rural hostility. as
given in public remarks and private
conversations to the Press-American,
seem to be: Belief that such a sys-
tenn is not needed in this district of
good highways-in some parts of the
year; the alleged excessive cost of
the improvement; the fear that the
work will not be well done; and the
fear that some fellow will get a fat
job out of it.
In other minds, in addition to the
above there is a lurking suspicion
that those automobile fellows of
Owosso might be in favor of the i'm
provement, which seems to be an
other powerful reason for condemn
ing it.
The grange held its semi-monthly
meeting at the hall over The Times
Office in Owosso Tuesday afternoon,
and the road question, especially the
county road system, was exhaustive
ly discussed. From the applause
given the various speakers, it was
easy to see that the county system
was in small favor.
Briefly the proposition is like this:
Road commissioners, provided the
system is adopted by the people at
the coming election, are elected by
the supervisors, and their salary
fixed by the same body. There may
be three commissioners, but one is
more often appointed, and as he
shoulders all the responsibility and
oversees all the work. this is more
satisfactory
Between the commissioner and the
board, the sum of two dollars on
every assessed one thousand dollars
of real estate may be raised for the
county road system. This is the
outside limit, and in this county, pro-
viding the two dollar tax was en-
forced, the sum of forty thousand
dollars would be available.
The road commissioner or COM
missioners must submit to the board
the list of roads to be repaired, and
the supervisors have the authority
to approve or to change this list.
The work is done under their super
vision.
The county road system is entirely
separate and Independent from state
bounty roads, but If the county sys-
tenn contains any stretch of a mile
or more under the conditions pre-
tnfn nr1
be collected.
The present township road law re-
mains in force, but township road
commissioners simply pay no atten-
ton to the stretches selected for re-
pair under the county system and
take care of the balance of their
township
After the grange had disposed of
it's regular business in secret session
Tuesday. the doors were thrown
open and non-members admitted.
Overseer Fred Love explained that
the time had come for the discussion
of the road question, and called on
George T. Mason to read a paper eX
planning the law covering the county
system. This followed by a short
talk by John w. Thorn.
Mr.. Thorn declared that in the
fifty years he had been about Shia-
wassee county he has never seen the
roads in such good shape for so
long a space of time as they have
been this winter. He declared that
he is favor of good roads, and will
cheerfully pay his share of the taxes
to support them. He was not well
informed on the county road system,
and was studying the question, he
said. If it proved to be the best
thing, he would vote for the estab-
lishment of the system.
p. B. Reynolds, who has cham
pioned the county road system from
the first, even securing the petitions
for the submission next spring,
was called upon. He explained to
the Changers that none of the money
would be expended within the cor
porate limits of cities and villages.
eve farmers are slow about taking
hold of good things" he said eve
are careful and conservative. Look
it up carefully, this county road
proposition, and don't vote against
your convictions" He thinks the
present township road system, au
thorized by the last legislature, may
be good thing when given a thor
ough trial In fact he is sure that
it would prove so If three years
more test were given it.
He declared that in his opinion
the petitions pouring into the legis-
lature for the repeal of the township
law may be partially explained by
the fact that some highway commits
sioners in the various townships are
incompetent-have bitten off more
than they can chew.
A. l.. Chandler, next called upon,
seemed to be in doubt, leaning a
trifle away from the county system.
He thought he might vote for it,
though, If on investigation it proved
a good thing. He insinuated that
perhaps the agitation for county
road system started among "whizz-
wagon manufacturers, whereat
there was applause. {,
Township Commissioner Stewart