The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1919-12-19
GOOD ROADS AS
VIEWED BY PROF.
]. R. JOHNSON

The following interesting article is
from Mr.. j. Richard Johnson. now a
professor In the engineering depart
ment OF the University of Kentucky,
Previous 10 September OF this year he
was employed by the State OF Ken
lucky as state roads engineer and his
work WAS In twelve OF the mountain
counties. Az heretofore stated In the
NEWS he is q native OF Lawrence
county. son OF the late George +. john
son former county clerk His interest
Ia his home county and his knowledge
OF road building under conditions sim
liar TO ours makes his statements
worth more than the opinions OF most
other people. He has no axe 10 grind
In this matter, no selfish Interest 10
: promote. He Is out OF the road bust
ness now, We make this statement
because the first question a lot OF
people ask about every one who Is for
good roads H. why is he for IL: how
much does he at out OF II. where Is
his selfish INTEREST,"
Lexington KY. Dec. IA
Being much Interested In the out
come OF the coming bond issue vote
for roads. | cannot forego a few words
90 the citizens Of my home county on
the subject
When We consider the fact that bad
roads cost more than good roads II Is
hard 20 believe thar any sane Chris
= tlan citizen could hold out for the
pr1ner.
Tho statement made above Bad
sads cost more than good roadsR viii
pnot be accepted whom nrst read, but
the moro you study the facts the more
clearly you must see that Il IL true.
Consider the average cost OF getting Il
dozen eggs 10 market from the various
points In the county. Then compute
from this the cost Of marketing an the
eggs aoid in the county. and note what
neat little sum ehargeablc to the
single item OF eggs Is dumped into the
beautiful mudholes that adorn our
roads Now by rough comparison of
the osrH marketed with the corn, cab
bage. potatoes. chickens, tan bark. coal
ana timber. make rough estimate of
the tremendous amount OF money In
vested In mudholeH In the roads
AS n concrete example suppose you,
Mr. EnrIner. have property assessed AT
sbO00.00. by defeating the bond issue
you may avoid an added $40 a year In
lANtH Abi AfNt. Hhi hiBb1N " $500 80 49,
bonds. But, on the other hand you
pay out many times year the amount
or the added tax for the repair OF
broken wagon tongues wheels and for
broken harness, etc. Your own time
and the time OF your teams wasted on
the bad roads could be utilized In In
creased production In the farm sui
ncient to pay the added tax many times
II You trade with local merchant who
hauia his goods or has them hauled
over the bad roads, from the railway
station. the high prices you pay for
the necessities OF life consume enough
to pay this added road tax once a
month. II you haul your own goods
from a railway station over bad road
Il costs YOU Just ns II would the mer-
chant. II you sell much produce you
bay an amount equivalent to your
taxes once n month In the increased
cost OF getting your produce to the
market You pay this amount again
once a month by keeping two mules
through the winter to do what one
could do on good road. These are
only few of the ways In which you
pay your tax on bad roads
Now get your pencil and figure how.
many times you have paid your road
chad road) tax In the past year. Then
take a look MT your roads and see what
YOU have bought with your hard earn
cd money.
Having had charge OF the state road
work In twelve OF Kentuckys noun
tain counties / have observed that in
every instance the first bond issue Tor
roads has been won by hard fight on
the part OF the best citizens OF the
,,",.a 'yas -, ,,,,,,,a,rasaIve NOT N regard
s''Sn 900 ~ aniv hit 10 an public im-
,,,oae,,a,,s - soa, Ass,,minr that the votes