The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-12
oil OR NOTHING.
Iecumseh Receives an Ultima
tum From Commissioners.
This Is Rejected With Scorn by
Delegation.
so "NLL" is WRITTEN.
No Road Improvements for That
Locality.
Tell County Board Members
What They Think.

As the result of a war between the
resident taxpayers of Tecumseh town
snip and the board of county commits
sioners. the Tecumseh ruralists will
travel dirt road-at least under the
present administration. 1t all happen
ed when the commissioners promised
Tecu1nseh a rock road, changed it's
mind and offered to build an oil road.
Proud Tecumseh, 100 strong, filed a re-
monstrance. Now Tecumseh gets moth
ing.
1t was last fall when people in the
Tecumseh territory conferred and de-
c1ded the district needed a rock road.
They wanted the road built from the
industrial school to Tecumseh and 200
persons signed the petitions. More than
100 Tecumsehites went before the board.
They recited their troubles. Just at
that time the county had money in the
bank and prosperity was abroad in
the land. So the commissioners prom
ised to build the road.
All that was asked of the Tecumseh
road district was that they prepare the
road for the work, cut the hills to a
15 per cent grade and prepare for the
millennium. That night there was re-
joicing in Tecumseh. Old timers in the
district dreamed of a model highway
that would lessen the haul to the To-
peka market. 1t cost $500 to make pre-
parations for the new road. But Te-
cumSeh cared not.
1t was after the highway was put
in condition that the commissioners
again investigated the county's finance.
They found the county was long on pro-
posed improvements and short on reve-
nue.. The commissioners conferred.
haSty trip was made to Kansas City.
The commissioners talked with repre-
sentatives of John D. Rockefeller's oil
output. Then they bought few cars
of OIL
When Tecumseh learned that their
new road was to be built of oil, they
rebelled. A Sunday afternoon indigna-
ton meeting was held. Everyone at
tended. Things that were said in that
meeting should not be printed in the
newspapers. There was free and un-
limited speech. Everyone had an idea
and expressed it.
Then a remonstrance was drawn
Something more than 100 names was
collected in the public reproach of the
board. At the meeting of the COM
| missioners this morning were score
of sturdy. bewhiskered farmers who
own valuable farms and raise bumper
crops. On the south steps of the court
house, the delegation held a harmony
meeting. They appointed orators and
outlined an attack. Then they visited
the unsuspecting board.
Expressions of personal opinion
came so fast that no stenographer
could catch them. But the line of
thought was easy to follow. The farm
ers were sore-clear through. They
told the board tAaL Cney na0 prom
ised them one thing and then substi-
tuted One ruralist asked commits
sioner if he would be satisfied with
sulky brindle COW after he had paid
for a work horse with a family record.
But the board only smiled They tried
to quell the storm. But to no avail.
They apologized because they had
over-estimated their funds. Then
they said the oil road was the best
they could give. Still the farmers re-
fused to be comforted
In no uncertain tones they told the
board to give them a rock road or give
them nothing. The board complied
1t gave nothing. Were the farmers
sore? Yes, indeed. They questioned
the sincerity of the board and de-
nounced it's principles. Still the board
smiled and stood pat. Not one dollar,
| the board declared, would 1t spend for
| a rock road. Not a foot would it
build. Then the farmers told the board
to take its old foul smelling, Shiny oil
and jump in the lake. Tecumseh
township would have none of it. They
even threatened to enjoir the board X
it attempted to put grease spots on
| its otherwise respectable highway.
Still the board was kind and COM
passionate. 1t timidly told the farm
| ers to go home and wished them many
pleasant dreams. The board will build
no new road-at least not to Te-
cumSeh,