Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1913-08-29
THEY TALKED GOOD ROADS.
Now the Next Thing is to Get Busy
And Do the Real Work.

A meeting largely attended by peo.
pie from both the town and the coun-
try was held in the Commercial Club
rooms here last Friday evening to
discuss the good road situation, how
to get them In the best shape and
how to keep them that way, and var
ious and sundry other matters per-
tanning to the highways of this sec
ton of the country.
The meeting was called to order
by Charles Allison, who had issued
the call for the same. He stated nat
the automobile owners desireL 20 de-
rive some benefit from the money
they had paid in as state license ard
the main object of the meeting was
to talk over how this could best be
eJne, and on what roads Of the coun-
ty it would be of the greatest bene-
fit to the most people.
Commissioner Mat Dick was one
of those present from Ellfnwood and
he was called ON for a few remarks,
as to how this money could be OBJ
tanned for road work and how 1t could
be used.
He stated that this money could
not be used for the building of roads,
but only for the maintenance of the
same. The county commissioners can
designate a road, preferably between
trade centerS, as a county road after
it has been put in good shape by the
townships through which it runs, and
after that this road will be maintain
ed at county expense out of the fund
created out of tine tax On autos and
other motor vehicles, but that be.
fore any road could be so designat-
ed it would have to be graded and
properly worked.
One of the main objects of the
meeting was to have the road from
east of Ellinwood on the Rice coun.
ty line to Pawnee Rock, following
the Santa Fe Trail, designated as a
county road, and the trustees of the
various townships through which this
road passes who were present e.
the meeting, were called upon fol
talks about what they thought of the
project and in what condition the
roads in their respective communities
was. John Doherty, of Iakin, Alber-
Allison, of Great Bend, and Joe Nc
Mullen, of Liberty, were present ant
all expressed themselves as heartily
in favor of the project and were will
ing to put all of their highways IL
the very best shape possible in or
der that this main thoroughfare cas-
and west across the county might b
popular highway and an incentive
to better roads all through the coun
ty. The roads in both Lakin and Lib
erty township are always among th'
very best On this part of the state
as are also the roads in Great Benz
township, with the exception Of
few bad places which it seems al
most impossible to keep in the prop
er shape, chief of which is the roa,
, east of town to the creek, and thI
stretch AROUND the bend of the creek
| This brought the matter Of stradght
= ening this piece Of road up for di.
cussion. This Is a question which ha
long been agitated, but so far the con
e missioners have not felt justified 4
taking action in the matter on az
!. count of the expense, but Mr.. All
D son made a proposition which shoul
e do away with considerable Of this hs
4 itancy. He informed the represent
9 tive Of the board Of commissioner
D that if the county would straighte
o out this stretch of road, make the Ct
= TO take out the big bend in the cnee
r and put i'm a cement bridge at tn
point, he would guarantee to cles
d the road, take out all the trees, roo
r and all, and make the fill at boz
e places in the creek entirely free
r cost to the county. This means b
II lot of work to clear the trees fer
O the road site and move several hui
dred yards of earth, and would NEE
" a saving to the county of about $lSC
a Short talks on this subject wel
n made by Mr.. Dick, DR.. Spiers and D
d Robson, of Elhnwood, as well as
It number from this city and Vicinit
4 and all expressed themselves asi
N favor of the road being changed ar
D. ON motion Of DR.. Spiers a commits
b. consisting Of the trustees Of Iah
Great Bend, Liberty. Buffalo and Pa
Is nee Rock townships. together WI
g C. L. Moses, D. C. Luse and D
Is Spiers, the latter three being appotn
ed by Chairman Allison, wait on ID
oI Besides the children, she leaves
a -