The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1913-02-19
A Way TO Get Good Roads.

how our public roads should be re-
paired, yet, we presume the sentiment
is concurrent that they are bad, anC
that, somehow, they ought to be made
better.
If we can only find the right way,
and then 60 to work to do what should
be done, the discussion will be of great
service to the county, and we will show
ourselves progressive indeed. We
know of no way in which progress can
be directed to better advantage than
along the line of the improvement of
our public highways.
1t seems as far as our observation
goes, that we have been progressing
backwards in this respect for two or
three years rather than forward.
Whether it is due to the great rainfall.
or to the Indifference of the people, or
to bad management in the work done,
we are not prepared to say. 1t is pos
slble that there may be a combination
OF causes, and that all of these enter
more or less into the conditions.
One thing is certain, go any way we
may, we find bad roads, and in many
places we can use the superlative de-
gree in speaking of them. What they
cost us in time, in repair of vehicles, in
wear and tear. in injury to stock ridden
or driven over them, reduced to dollars,
we do not know; and how much is lost
by not having easy and quick transpor-
tation is difficult t. estimate.
If it We're possible to make an exact
calculation, the result would be sur
prising- it would make clear the
fact that the county is paying annually
a very heavy tribute for its mud, its
gullies, its ruts, its bad grade, and 9TH
er things in the make up of hard road
to travel,
So much for conditions. They are
bad enough Can we improve them?
That is the material and pertinent ques-
tion, and it is one deserving of serious
consideration.
That they can be greatly improved
by concerted action we feel assured;
that they will not be. without this ac-
ton and healthy public sentiment, we
are equally certain. sEs
The discussion may build up the sem
first thing needed after
that comes ways and means, and, in
order to accomplish results, we will
need both ways and means, for it is no
small undertaking to do what should be
done. 1t is also folly to start at it in
hap hazard way.
Before doing any thing, we ought to
determine what we want to do, and
how we want it done.
Do we wish to pike the county?
We know of but two ways of doing
this, one by joint stock company; the
1ther by county taxation.
The county is prohibited by the late
aw from taking stock over 500 per
mile in joint stock company organized |
for building pike roads, or more than
thirty per cent, of the cost of bridge. |
1t is hardly probable that joint stock |
companies will be organized to under
take the work especially with such a
restriction on county action in aid of
the enterprise, or as joint owner, so
It may be dismissed If it is done by
taxation it necessitates a property
lax, limited to twenty, five cents on the
300. or bond issue. The latter re-
luires vote of the people on the prop
ositiOn and a two-thirds majority of
hose voting in its favor before it can
pc made effective. If bonds are is
sued, levy of as much as twenty
cents on the one hundred dollars of as
sessable property in the county can be
made to pay interest on the bonds, and
,reate sinking fund for the redemp-
ton of the bonds. A bond issue of
300, 900 would mean an annual interest
charge of $4,000. Oar taxable proper
~ is in round numbers $500, coo.
It will be seen that an annual tax of |!
twenty cents on the one hundred dollars !
would not be sufficient to pay the inter-
est on the above amount, much less pay |
The costs of collecting, and create
sinking fund. of course, with less
bond Issue the interest charge would be
reduced.
If constructed in this way. the pixies
would be free to the public. and would /
nave to be kept in repair by the county.
We are not sufficiently versed in road
building to say what well construct
d pike would cost on our main roads
Der mile
But. a pike is not the only alterna-
i've, and. considering our finances and
he limitation of the law, we do not
believe it is the system to adopt at
his time We believe, however. we