University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1910-12-28
Viewpoints.
ABOUT COUNTRY ROADS

16OO SOUN KY ROADS
, 7" the Editor ii the University ti,,<nnrisn:
As county highway engineer Tor the
last two years. and having carefully
read the laws pertaining 20 roads
highways and bridges. and the diff
cmities under which ] nave worked
being considered, will state that
h" most serious difficulty was lack
loI revenue 10 work on. The present
road laws amply provide various ways
by which the work can be done. That
! Is. various sections gave the county
court the choice to adopt which ever
way seemed 10 them best suited 10
/ the conditions existing in their re-
specrivc counties.
/ know that the members OF our
Legislature have worked hard In, sy-
cr: session 10 formulate IL road law
10 meet all the conditions of the
counties OF the stale. and great credit
is due them for our present laws.
| Much caii be accomplished under the
present laws if the courts will select
wisely. The difficulty has been in
getting the courts To adopt them. II
| IS quite difficult to get people 10
| change from old Incihods 10 new and
| he'te: ones. Under the school dis
trict plans, the districts are small,
the amount accrminS to each district
being determined by the assessed
valuation of the district. without re-
gard TO the mileage or conditions of
the roads. School districts were
formed for school purposes and not
| for roads
/ For instance. the smallest amount
| i'll this county TO a district is $l2.I1:
| the largest amount is $l9I.GG. The
districts have about the same mileage.
and the district, receiving the small
amount. being a rougher country. has
the worst conditions to meet. For
lh3 districts the average amount 10
each district is s7lGG: and from this
l03 overseers, at S2 day. must be
paid. and they must reserve the
amount due them from the small
amount OF the district funds. Hence
three-fifths of the amount collected
for roads goes 10 pay the overseers
This, in my opinion, is wrong. The
overs 1er shonld be paid out of the
general revenues OF the county. as
other officers are paid.
While the law provides that the
courts ca levy as much as 81 cents
on each S106.U0 assessed valuation of
the taxable property Of the counties,
bnt few counties have done this.
the counties would put on the %
cents levy, and the state would ap-
propriate $500 900 year. proportion
ing the state aid fund to the various
counties who would undertake and
build permanent roads, there could be
much accomplished. and sincerely
hope that our present Legislature will
make a liberal appropriation for state
aid. This money should be spent un-
der proper supervision of competent
men.
think our Legislature did wise
act in creating the Office of state and
county highway engineer. will also
state that the State Board of Agricnl.
ture made wise choice in appointing
Mr. Curtis Hill, state highway engi-
+neer. also believe it would be wise
to have department of roads and
highways in each county. under which
department all matters pertaining 10
opening or changing or roads, bridges
and culverts should come.
| will not suggest as to the best
way to accomplish this. or to the pow
ers to be given it. for the members
of the Legislature can, think. easily
work it ont. We must not take a
backward step, but go patriotically
forward. am confident of one fact,
that the conditions of the public high
ways in any community is an index
of the public enterprise and push and
spirit of the people | often remark
that the condition OF the public roads
lis just as the people want. for we are
able to have just what we want
So let's quit quibblng about this
or that. and get down to business. and
do something worth while. and place
our grand old state in the front ranks.
P. s. QUINN.