The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1917-07-16
WHAT GOES WITH ROAD MONEY?
A Discussion of Robson County's
Road Problem and Remedy Sug-
UoStod


gested
To the Editor Of The Robesonian:
What goes with the road money?
There has been for some time a
feeling of discomfort over road con-
ditions and the expenditure of the
road money of Robson county. High
taxes are paid, bad roads exist, and
the question comes IN from all sides,
"What goes with the road money?''
Election times this furnishes sore
heads the subject matter for handing
the public some savory food for
thought. This is, of course. entire
ly Obstructive and not constructive,
as they offer no remedy-just "cuss".
| AS member and as secretary of
the new road board, sworn in in May,
have had an opportunity to inves-
tigate conditions and to study the
road law for the past few months,
i and I want to answer briefly the
above question, when went unan-
!, swered last fall during election times,
: as best I can.
] % Part Of it is spent in an eco
is a biz county, hundreds of miles Of
!, public roads, lots of travel, road
work is very expensive, not perman-
e ent and makes little show.
el (2) Part Of it is wasted through
graft. Hints have been thrown out
of graft and crooked work among
: county and road officials. In my
n opinion there is nothing to this. Ev-
e cry bill paid with road money is
: itemized, sworn to, approved by road
t.. superintendent, checked by auditor,
e passed by a board elected by the vot-
l. ers, published by The Robesonian and
e then filed in the court house as al
matter of public record, where any
: voter at any time may investigated
is any particular bill to mis- entire sat
4, lsfaction. There is graft, but it lies
lel at the door Of the fellows who wait
ID fer the little bridge repairing and
l. road patching jobs and put in bills
N for twice what the work is worth,
and try to work them through. Of
e. ten these are the fellows who make
lg iture. Nearly every little emergency
d. Job costs the county too much. The
in| idea seems to exist that since they
Sc pay high taxes, they had better get
of what they can out of the county.
|. This is wrong. We ought to work
for the county cheaper than for any
nd one else. We ought to exercise the
it spirit Of sacrifice, and when the op-
TO- portunity occurs each one should take
nix his part Of the burden.
rel This problem can only be solved
in through publicity and through CO
cir operation Of voters and road officials
as 60 Waste through an inefficien
les road system. In my opinion We Cal
of never have conditions as they shout
be under the present inefficient sys
M tenn. The chief waste of this syster
no lies in the maintenance and opera
lall ton of a chain gang. Buying SUP
the plies, hiring guards and feeding mule
1877 makes the work accomplished cos
T. too much. If the chain gang was e1
the tirely abolished and the work dor
out by private contract to the loves
hat bidder, money would be saved tt
rks county and conditions changed.
will In my opinion we will not be {
of the right track until we abolish tt
,or- chain gang and make every townsh
an absolute unit, letting each tow
IS ship elect its own trustees and
leld them spend all Of their road none
uly themselves.
ons. Each township was unit und
the the old law and the plan proved u
tion satisfactory. Why? Because I'll
ink county maintained the chain gal
be and this left the townships too lit
so funds to run on. It also kept "a
be the townships sore because the 25
township had outfigured them al
held was getting the use of the cha
War gang and Of their funds.
Ba- Under the present law all the tow
will ships are clamoring for their mon
that to be spent on their roads. Impos!
The BILE! Why? Most Of the items
nal expense are for machinery, salari
and supplies for the changing. 7
can't move the gang every time t
ndi- townships money given out and y
out could get to each township hare
mp once in five years.
um- I believe that the chain gang h
1t always been an expense and serv
nberl as a 'bone Of contention" for t
fol- county. If criminals were hired {
that to individuals or to townships a
erial anv money thus received divided
emp among the townships, that, in ad
ap- ton to their tax money, would
ards. their roads in good shape and ag;
made chances Of graft would be rs times
er 1 small with the township unit as
would be in the county unit.
raw The nresent officials are doing
will best thew can under the present
epre- satisfactory conditions, and am s.
wing the cooperation of the taxpayers '
sue. be appreciated, until the time d
r for come when we can find the solut
total of Robson county's greatest pr
r in lem-roads.
obers J. BROWNE EVA.
ri cts Ct pau1s NJ c..