The Tupelo journal., 1913-05-23
GOOD ROAD WOKE UP COUNTY
Single Stretch Of Really Improved
Highway Aroused People to Need
of More improvements.

The following interesting story OF
how a single stretch of really good
road has walked up an entire county
to it's need Of better highways comes
from Kansas. and was printed in the
Chanute Tribune. 1t begins: one
good, c%ounty-built road has done
more" said a farmer recently, ito put
Chautauqua county on the map tina
all township-buil roads have done in
ten years" The road he referred to
was built last fall and early this spring
by the county commissioners under
the new county road law. 1t crosses
Chautauqua county from east to west.
It's benefits are just beginning to be
fully realized. One day recently mo-
tor cars from Oklahoma City, Fort
Worth, Joplin, Ordway, Colo, Coffey-
vile and Independence were at Cha
mute at the same time.
The good road is bringing hundreds
of tourists through Chautauqua coun-
ty who otherwise would never have
seen the county. AS a result realty
men report a larger number OF for
eign inquiries about lands there than
ever before. The farmers are begin
ming to see the benefit of having out
side people through the county and
are becoming good road enthusiasts.
Chautauqua was one of the first
counties in the state to take advan-
tage of the new county road law.
which permits a tax levy o exceed
ing one mill Tor road purposes. That
money is spent by the county COM
missioners. Its great advantage lies
in making it possible for the county
to get roads across townships which
otherwise would not build them. I'm
der the old system one township
board would build a good road to the
township line and the board In the
next township would do just as it
pleased about joining 1t with a con
tinuation of the work. Generally 1t
did not join, and the result was a
patchwork of disconnected highways.
Now, with the county board in control
long roads can be built and township
je~alousies are obviated.
Last year the county commissioners
levied a one-mill tax and raised $13,-
500. That was all used on the cross
county road. All wooden bridges and
~culverts were replaced with cement
and stone. Much permanent work
was done. The road today is even
better than 1t was when it was built.
This year another one-mill tax was
levied and the same sum as last year
will be raised. The work will be
done in other parts of the county this
year.
The farmers also club together and
build good roads to join the county
roads. A neighborhood four or five
miles back from the main road will
Join forces, set a day or a week n
fix the road leading to the good road.
and thus the good road system is
spreading over the county. 1t is
tanned to make the third tax levy
next year. BY that time every n OF
the twelve townships in this county
will have received an equal share OF
the county money and have good
roads leading in at least two direc-
lions across the township.
For a time there was much opposi-
ton to the county levy. Mass meet
ings were held in the townships not
receiving any of the first years levy
and the tax was denounced. Petitions
were signed asking the commissioners
not to make the levy this year. But
that was last January. When the
board made the levy this month there
was not a protest. Those who opposed
the tax at first have been converted
after using a good road for seven OF
eight months.