The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1915-04-29
HUNDREDS ATTEND THE
GOOD ROADS RALLY.

i
ton they could pertaining to the
matter. This was the initial raj
ly or gathering of a series of
meetings which are to be held
throughout the county almost ey
cry day up TO May the 22nd, at
which time the matter of bonding
the county in the sum of $500, 600
for constructing gravel roads, will
be voted upon.
II. c. Helm, chairman of the !
Hickman committee from the |
Business League, acted as chair
man OF the meeting, which was an
0pen-air affair
The first speaker was Rev X.
NJ Walker, of the First Metho
dist church. His talk was instruc-
tive and clinched interest from the
very start. lie proved that good
roads even effected his business
that bad roads caused many
man to lose his religion"
Hon. Hot Time" Smith, of
Fulton, followed Rev. Walker
He is good roads enthusiast
from the word go. What he said
about folks who ever and eternal
ly oppose progress and improve
ments, was anything except com
planetary He went after the
knocker rough-shod He recalled
the fact that the building of a
new court house aroused a lot of
tightwads and worked them into
a frenzy; but the building was
erected and the burden OF taxa
ton on that account was so light
the opposition never knew when
il was paid for. The road bust
ness, he said, could be handled
the same way.
Judge +. S. Moore was called
upon and delivered short ad
dress supporting any sound, SEN
sible plan that would be instru-
mental in lettering the roads. He
remembered one instance - one
of personal experience-where It
took a good saddle horse a whole
day to travel 80 miles, coming
from the Bend toward Hickman.
The value of good roads, he be-
lieves, can hardly be estimated.
County Judge Stair, for lack
of time, talked only a few minutes
His constituency was assured that
the Fiscal Court was anxious and
willing to give the taxpayers OF
the county value received for ev
cry dollar spent, whether that be
dirt or gravel roads. He hoped
the latter would be preferred
and that we could see our way
clear to successfully handle III,
bond issue.
The last speaker was engineer
b. II. Burrell, of Washington, Of
the u. $. government good roadI
department. His talk, while deal
ing in facts, was decidedly in fay
or of gravel or macadam roads
Slides were used by him showinl
all kinds of roads in all parts O
of the country, illustrating tn
marked advantages of grave
roads over the summer dirt roa'
and the winter mud road. On
of the scenes showed a dand.
gravel road, 10 feet wide, built il
r 1909, costing about $500 a mil
+ for construction and so per mil
s per year for maintenance. This !
p probably the minimum cost o
,r properly built gravel roads III
der favorable circumstances. MI
a Burrell didn I look with favor M
~ on the statement of the "Th
+ Man Who Knows" relative
i. gravel roads at $l400 per mile;
fact, he said it could not be don
~ properly at anything like tn
.. figure. After reading articles
the Courier ON this subject b
Is Taxpayer he said the latte
: was nearer the correct figure
O. Not having had sufficient time
X make what might be called a pr
4 liminary survey, Mr.. Burrell di
n. not undertake to say what Il
H. Fulton county gravel roads wouI
no cost per mile. This, however,
N. the main question. Very, vel
le few people are opposed to mae
IA dam roads the point of contei
n ton is the question of cost. II
is items of cost will all be TIRES
aI ed cut in due time.
II was gratifying TO note Il
interest taken by all parties IN a
tendance There seemed to be
willingness to learn and gam
ma information possible. This is col
-. mendable. In our enthusiasm
-, opposition. We should not dri'
/ ahead blindly.
At this meeting was numb