The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-07-28
WHO'S RESPONSIBLE?
should BOndsmen Of Road Engineers
Re Held 10 Answer for Neglect Of
Road Engineersi w. II. Key
Writes Another Timely
Article on Road
Question.

articles to County officials has been
misunderstood by a few people. MY
Investigation has been conducted only
along the line of our turnpike affairs
and our turnpike affairs are absolute
ly in the control of our County Judge
and the 8 Magistrates from the various
Districts Of Mason County, and the
Road Engineer appointed by the
County Judge and the Assistant Road
Engineer appointed by the Chief En-
gineer. All of these officials give
bond or should do so for the faithful
performance of their duties. II our
Road Engineer and Assistant have
given bond for the faithful perform
ance of their duties, what should be
done when they have neglected their
duties so grossly and allowed the wat
er to run down the middle of our
turnpikes, washing the same away and
the Road Engineer not making any
effort, in any direction, to eliminate
this trouble or repair the roads in
places where they became impossible,
last winter? Are the Bondsmen of
these officials responsible to Mason
county for their faithful performance
of duty?
The hundreds of rod of rock that
have been lying on the various roads
that remain unscattered other than
being kicked into the gutter by traf-
fee, remain as mute testimony of the
inefficiency and negligence of the
Road Engineering Department
From information that l have gath
cred from members of the Fiscal
Court, there is only a small percent
age of the pixies that members of the
Fiscal Court ever see, and, conse-
quently, set year after year ana ex-
pend money, not knowing for what it
has gone. The reports on record from
the Road Engineer, simply state the
amount of money that has been paid
out, each year, upon each road in the
county, and this statement Is marked
20. H." Committee" Do you think
that the Auditing Committee composed
of members of the Fiscal Court, know
what any part of the money has gone
for? In 1913, the turnpike fund fell
short of expenditures about 100000,
and in 1914, the road fund fell short
something over 100000. Now 1t is
illegal for the Board of Magistrates to
expend more money than the fund
produces, and the money that is bor
rowed to make up this deficit. by law,
cannot be charged to the 1916 road
fund 1t is misfortune for the
members since most of the shortage
was produced, but ignorance in the
eyes of the law does not excuse any
man.
Upon our Board of Magistrates. is
one member holding office in certain
District, presumably, representing the
taxpayers in that district, while in
fact, he has been living in the City of
Maysville for two years. From my
conception of the law, 1t is perfectly
plain, that the Office of Magistrate in
that particular District became va
cant when the member moved away.
Now, technically. this member may be
able to hold his seat, because he goes
back and votes in his old home Pre-
cinct, but really do you think the tax
ayers of that vicinity are represented
in our Fiscal Court? l would say,
take a look at the turnpikes in Lewis
burg and Helena Precinct, and 1 will
leave you to be the Judge as to wheth-
er the people are represented or not
On July 25th, took the Pleasant
Ridge turnpike, two miles west of
Washington, following its course
4 7-1O miles to the junction of the
Brandywine pike. There is one large
bridge 60 feet in length and one small
one. The report OF the County Engi-
neer showed $3.50 spent on this roao,
last year. The first 2-10 mile shows
there was some work done last year.
but for the other 5-1O miles, GER
tainly shows no results with the ex-
ception of one hill about 200 feet In
length. Rock can be had in this vic
Unity for. ,at least. $3.50 per rod. There
should be $3.50 or year spent on this
road, and am sure, Charles Crawford,
Dan Maher and Ed Kennard and other
taxpayers on this pike would come
to Maysvllle oftener than they do, at
the present, II this was done, This pike
does not know what ditch is, and, OF
course, the water runs where our pres
ent turnpike management wants It TO
run-in the middle Of the road.
From Murphysville. took the Muir
physvllle and Mayslick pike. which is
8 $40 miles long. The first l 7-1O
mile. that is. from Murphysville to the
sardls pike is nothing but bed rock,
water having washed away anything |
that looks like mapped rock. This
road needs plenty OF rock and plenty |