Evening journal., 1913-05-03
GOOD ROAD WOKE UP COUNTY
Single Stretch Of Really Improved
Highway Aroused People 70 Need
Of More improvements.

The following interesting story OF
how single stretch Of really good
road has walked up an entire county
TO its need OF better highways comes
from Kansas, and was printed IN the
Chanute Tribune. II begins, "One
more said a farmer recently, ito put
ChautauQua county on the map than
all townshipbuilt 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. Il crosses
Chautauqua county from east to west.
It's benefits are just beginning 10 be
fully realized One day recently mo-
tor cars from Oklahoma City. Fort
Worth, Joplin. Ordway. Cole. Corey
Vile and Independence we're at Cha
mute at the same time
The good road IA bringing hundreds
or tourists through Chautaudua coun-
~ who otherwise would never have
seen the county, As result realty
men report larger number Of for.
eign inquiries about lands there than
ever before. Tho farmers are begin
ming 10 see the benefit OF having out
side people through the county and
are becoming good road enthusiasts.
Chautauqua was one Of the lrst
counties In the state TO take advan.
tage OF the new county road law,
which permits a tax levy not exceed
ing one mill for road purposes That
money is spent by the county com
missioners. It's great advantage Hes
IN making Il possible for tho county
| 70 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 tho board In the
next township would do Just as 4
pleased about joining it with a con
tinuation OF the work. Generally 4
did not join. and the result was {
patchwork OF disconnected highways
Now. with the county board IN contro
long roads can be built and township
jealousies are obviated
levied a one-mill tax and raised SIS,
500. That was all used on the cross
county road. All wooden bridges and
oulverts were replaced with cemen
and stone. Much permanent worl
was done The road today Is ever
better than II was when It was built
This year another one-mill tax wal
levied and the same sum as last yea
will be raised The work will b'
done in other parts OF the county thil
year.
The farmers also club together an'
build good roads TO Join tho count,
roads. A nelghborhood four or nv
miles back from the main road will
Join forces. set a day or week ant
hx the road leading to the good road
} and thus the good road system 4
spreading over the county. II 4
planned TO make the third tax lev,
next year By that time every one o
the twelve townships in this count,
will have received an equal share o
the county money and have goo
! roads leading In at least two direS
tions across the township
, For time there was much opposl
ton to the county levy. Mass meet
! ings we're held in the townships no
receiving any Of the first years lev
and the tax was denounced Petition
we're signed asking the commissioner
not to make the levy this year Blu
! that was last January. When tn
.. board made the levy this month ther
! was not a protest Those who oppose
the tax at first have been converte
after using a good road for seven o
eight months.