The Adair County news., 1915-02-24
Good Roads Movement.


session for the purpose G q hsidering
the question of entering bon sys-
tenn of making good roads in Adair
County. This meeting was called and
held upon the insistant demand of
great numbers of the citizens of the
county. The Legislature of the State
has enacteda law by which a YAK of SC
on each hundred dollars a the tax
able property of the whof( State is
levied and to be used for TIN promo
tion of good roads in the bate. By
this act it is proposed to Supplement
the amount that each COUNTY may
raise by local taxation for roads by
an equal amount. This meeting was
attended and the question discussed
by quite a number Of the citizens
from all sections of the county.
Whether the county should adopt this
measure or not, still the citizens of
the county would have to pay its
quote of the State tax which would
be used in aid of counties which do
adopt this system. 1t is said that up
ona standing vote being taken by the
persons present, all favored the prop
osftion except two and the vote of the
Justices showed all of them favoring
the move except one. While this if
carried out, is the greatest benefit
that could be conferred upon the
county, taken as whole still it is a
bigsundertaking. and a costly one In
fact, no county has or ever will have
goOd roads without the expanding of
large sums of money. But it is
claimed that by reason of the i'm
proved opportunities of profit and en-
joyment, that these roads will afford
the people, including the increased
values of the real estate, will make it
very profitable investment,
But it must be understood that
good roads can not be built all over
the county at one time or in any very
short time. Under this law the first
roads will have to be built on the
ways leading from one county seat to
another, and that these roads have to
be approved by the State Road Engi-
neer and if not so built the State will
not supplement the County fund.
Again, only so much road can be built
per year, as the county and state fund
will pay for, but eventually, if the
plan is carried out, the roads will
reach all parts of the county. Such
roads should first be built that will
connect us with railroad and naviga-
tion, if practicable. Now in the
building of these roads every body is
supposed to be benefited. The ben
efts, as general rule, will rebound
more to the interest of the larger
property holders, as they will receive
the more benefit of the road by this
use and the increase of the value of
their property. But, if justice pre-
walls, and it should be made to pre-
vail, at all hazards, the greater hold
ings of property man has, the great
er amount he will have to pay toward
their constructions and the less prop
erty man has and the less use to be
made of the roads, he needs, the less
he will have to pay. So, it is the duty
of every citizen and Taxpayer to. pay
his proper proportion of the tax and
see that every other one does the
same. Every man has right to and
should exercise the right of examin-
ing every other mans tax list and see
that his property is properly listed,
and if this is done it will very great
ly increase the amount Of money that
will be raised. There is no trouble
about the poor man or medium man
for what he has is always in sight and
easily reached. AS to the man that
has the reputation of being wealthy
or claims to be wealthy, make him
show up and put up or shut up. The
fact is apparent, if one will take the
pains to investigate the tax list, that
there is either very much less wealth
in the county than is supposed to be,
or it is not taxed. An amendment
should be added to the law by the
next Legislature so as to require reg
ular teamsters or the users of Motor
Vehicles for hauling freight, to pay
license taxes on their vehicles, for the
reason that they Use and damage the
roads out of proportion to all other
persons. Contributed.