Mexico weekly ledger., 1919-12-11
JUDGE Bolts SUGGESTS
BETTER ROAD PLAN

The following communication from
Judge w. W. Bolts, Audrain County's
Representative, explains the present
condition of road laws in Missouri and
outlines the only method possible for
this county to follow if We would Sc
cure improved highways without is
suing bonds. His communications fol-
lows:
The ever present questions of good
roads is before us for some kind of ac-
ton and by this time every body must
realize that good roads don't come
from talk, nor meetings and en-
thusiasms will not build roads. it
takes labor and material and directing
ability to get good roads, and no one
of these elements can be obtained with
out cost. In other words the first thing
to be provided is money.
There is no doubt but what the peo-
pie of Audrain county are both able
and willing to furnish the money nee
essary if they can be assured that it
will be properly and equitably expend-
ed. That was apparent to every one
who took part in the recent campaign
for a bond issue.
We have a law now on the statute
books that does not meet with my en-
tire approval, and l tried to get
through the last legislature one that
thought much better and more equit-
able, but it failed to pass. In fact If
we wait for something perfect we will
wait till the Judgment day, and then
some will not be satisfied. The law
that refer to is the SPECIAL ROAD
DISTRICT law, passed in 1918.
Under the Special Road District law
all the road and bridge taxes paid on
the property in a district is placed to
the credit Of the district and expended
under the direction of the commits
sioners Of the district. These commits
%sioncrs r appointed in the first in
stance by the county court and then
elected annually by the people, one
each year for a term of three years.
The people, themselves must take
the initiative, in the formation of a
district. They must get up a petition
describing the boundaries Of the pro-
posed district and asking for incorpor-
alton, and this petition which must be
to the county court, must be signed by
the owners of a majority of the acres
Of land in the proposed district, and
county court must hear objections
remonstranccs and may approve
reject the petition, Care Of course
should be taken to start right and to
plan for a district that would appeal
to the county court as fitting in with a
comprehensive scheme for the whole
The district when Incorporated by an
lct of the county court has absolute
power respecting the roads and bridges
VI the district and control of all the
money collected on property in the
for road and bridge purposes.
t has power by a vote Of the people
f the district to vote bonds, and can
a vote levy additional taxes,
think, with the same limitations that
choOl directors now have.
But nor important than the above
overs is the fact that the commits
are not tied down to rules
egarding the work necessary to be
one on the roads and bridges, but can
ct as they sec fit in emergencies, ca.l
ire work done and can provide the
for paying the bills. l am IN
1rmed by the county court that it
,oks now as if they would not be able
, get a single road oYerseer in tn.
Dunty. Men will not take the places
or the money the law allows the cour-
' court to pay road overseers. That .
a condition confronting US that =
Mould put a stop to theorizing. The
Dads must be worked and it looks Ike
1c only way to get them worked is to
Special Road Districts. '
But this law that l am referring to !
OF only provides the means Of more
Effectively maintaining the roads and
ridges Of a district, but it provides Y
very effective means of raising tho c
for permanent improvement. 1t c
this: The owners of a majority IF T
lie acres of land within the district !
within { half mile Of any road n y
art Of . nad in the district, can pc T