The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-07-18
. MASON COUNTY TURNPIKEs
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II has been said to me that the man
agement of the Mason County Turn
pixies and members OF the Fiscal Court
have made the statement, THAT Twas
making a Political manoeuvre In TAX
ing hold of the turnpike question as
have done, and further stated, that |
was grooming" myself for County
Judge. | would like to state here and
now, that have absolutely no Poll
tical aspiration. l have never heard
of any one seeking an Office by the
course | am pursuing.
, am directly interested in business
in this city, which was affected very
materially, last year, by the bad roads
in Mason County, and | am confident.
this winter, it will affect my business
as we'll as the business of everyone
else interested in any way with the
tobacco industry to a much greater ex-
tent. have my hands full with my
individual business and the tobacco
business, which | look after. The sum-
mer months period is my slack time,
and | am now using 1t in the efforts
of our turnpike system. am going
to advocate a policy for Mason County
before | finish my subject.
While carrying out this work, ! am
making actual measurements of the
turnpikes in each precinct of Mason
County. | am making a notation and
the location OF every bridge on each
lpike, giving its size. All this informa-
ton, propose to put in the form of a
Mason County Map. | am going to
print $50 or 300 of these Maps and
sell them to anyone in Mason County
who desires one, and anyone desiring
one of these Maps will kindly place
their order with me as soon as con-
venient The proceeds of the Map sale
will renumerate me for the expense
that | am at, and it is some expense
to drive an automobile over every road
in Mason County and stop and look at
every bridge or culvert. | note that
our County Officials pay from $500 to
$1,000 a day, for an automobile for
that purpose
On June 4th, took the Tuckahoe
and Minerva turnpike following
its course to Minerva. This road
which is 4-1O miles in length,
has eleven bridges upon it,
three large ones more than 80 feet in
length and smaller ones, from 4 to
IA feet. The foundations of nine of
these bridges are in very fair condition,
but the foundation of two are getting
in very bad shape. The one at Beasley
lChurch is falling in and Stone Mason
could probably repair the present
damage in two days time, or an ex-
Ipense of $500 or $500 to Mason coun-
ty. The large bridge near Minerva
being, believe. over the west branch
of Lees Creek. is in very bad condi-
ton, but a Stone Mason in few
days would put this foundation in first
class conditionh. 1t has not been the
practice during the last few years
to repair foundations, in fact, be-
lieve it is against the policy of the
present management in Mason County
to repair a bridge foundation. but in
stead, let it fall in and replace it with
a concrete foundation. You see by
lputting in a new concrete foundation,
| 1t makes great deal more work and
a larger contract. This turnpike is
getting better attention, in the way
of drainage and In the way of fixing
the bad places in it than any turnpike
in Mason county, with the exception
of one small stretch of pike.
There was expended on the Minerva
and Tuckahoe turnpike road, last year
$527S5, or about $500 per mile
slightly more than this road is en-
titled to. but $4,000 spent, annually
will give the people of this community
a first class road to travel over The
man who repairs this road with a lit.
tie sound advice and prompt super.
vision, would attain splendid results
and | believe this man lives at the
junction of the Tuckahoe and Mmervs
and the Dover and Tuckahoe turn.
pixies, and thereby is enabled TO dc
good service to a large mileage Of
pike. If this road had each year al
much rock put upon II as in 1915 and
the water kept out of the middle OF 1t
a splendid road would be the result
Rock can be had on this road not Il
exceed $3.50 per rod.
AT Minerva, | took the Minerva anC
Fernleaf pike, which is a ridge road
for the whole distance OF 31s miles tC
the Germantown pike. at Fernleaf, but
this road is sadly in need of rock
There are many places which show
nothing but yellow clay. and | am con
tident. in fact, have been told by resi-
dents in the vicinity, that the schOo
Wagon could not get by certain places
I'm this road during last winter anC
Jno relief for those Dlaces ia I'm sigh