The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-09-12
KNOX COUNTY OBLIGATION
Editor Banner:

Editor Banner:
At the time Knox county was work.
ing hard to secure the location of the
Ohio State sanitorium, enough prom
ises and pledges, in words at least,
to build a pike road and an electric
railroad to Kingdom come were OBJ
tanned not to mention good roads 20
the institution. The obligation is yet
in force until fulfilled. The writer
has had this put up" to him dozen
times by the state authorities and 1t
is working to the harm of our people
that we are not fulfilling our solemn
promise We can never overcome
this unpleasant notoriety until those
promises are fulfilled to the letter.
The question seems to be carried over
from one reprieve to another and ap.
parently will be until the people of
Knox county and especially the ciu-
zens of Mt. Vernon rise up in anger
and demand settlement of it now
and at once-in other words make 1t Il.
political issue.
A rumor-baldheaded and old-grew
current while ago that the viaduct
was to be paved with the asphalt
block taken up from the square be-
tween Gay street and the public
square. But 1t looks as if the Pana-
ma canal will be finished before the
dust is swept from the viaduct.
An alleged reason is that Difficult.
ty exists with the G.. A. e G. Railroad
company regarding few feet. The
railroad company has no property on
the highway only the fright of way,
consequently such an excuse is weak
and futile one. Let the commission
ers call upon the citizens association
straighten out matters with the c. A.
& G. railroad company. Mr.. John
Henry of Akron, and Mr.. George Chey-
ney, the local agent, have always been
easy of approach and will no doubt
lend an assisting hand in solving this
little petty difficulty. Coshocton ave-
nue. should be paved or some improve
ment made along that street to the
run bridge and then the road piked to
the Wooster road Reliable engineers
have formulated specifications for this
cross road involving about $S,000.00
expense, which would cost the ad-
joining property owners $500 divided
into 10 annual payments or about
$500 per year-all of which the prop
erty owners have agreed to except
one or two who have yet to be signed
up.
One of the present county commits
sioners verbally to more than one
voter during his campaign, promised
this Improvement. He ought to get
busy" or else the people ought to
make him get move on himself. 1t
is burning shame that state officials
and visitors must during the coming
winter go over such horrible roads
and go away not only discussing our
want of enterprise, but also doing q
| little cussing on the side.
The writer of this communication
vouch for the truth of the fact that
every visitor loudly finds fault with
the road to the sanatorlum and asks
why we have not get up enough
to run the street car line there. The
Citizens association took the matter
up on more than one occasion but
without any visible success. Public
ity of the matter perhaps may sting
into action those responsible and an
universal cry ought to go up from all
sides that as honest citizens and men
we ought to keep our promise and not
wait till we are hit with club. You
have to hit some people with a brick
in order to make an impression upon
them. Now, gentlemen, please do
get busy'-pave the viaduct with
something more substantial than good
resolutions for YOU know hell is sup
material and Mt Vernon is not In that
neighborhood. Do something to prove
you are in earnest in regard to the
road to the state sanatorium and your
names will go singing down the cor
ridors of time with an echo that will
say, We'll done, good men,"
CITIZEN,