The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-05-09
Urgent Need
for Road Work

Two delegations seeking road i'm
jprovement called on the County Court
/ Monday and presented their claims.
In both cases the claims appeared to
be meritorious, the County Judges
were so impressed, but they were I'm
able to offer any immediate assist
ance, owing to the fact that there is
very little money in the road fund,
hardly enough to pay for the work
that has already been contracted. Z
One delegation was composed of
about q dozen splendid citizens from
French Village, who were seeking aid
in rocking about two miles of the
French Village and Lawrenceton road.
Owing to impassable conditions in the
old road, Mr.. AuBuchon had offered
to give right-of-way Off Of his land,
providing the new road was rocked and
made substantial for road purposes,
which the representatives urged was
absolutely necessary to make a safe
roadway. The good citizens of that
community had subscribed considera-
BILE money for that purpose, and it
was hoped the county would vote a
similar amount to the work.
All the County Judges could do at
this time was to promise aid for such
work just as soon as money was avail
able for such purpose. When the sit
uation was explained to the visitors,
they went away apparently satisfied
that they had been treated fairly, and
that the Judges would be pleased to
add similar amount to the funds
they had raised for the much needed
work at the earliest possible moment.
The plan this delegation practically
decided upon before departing was to
make their funds go as far as pos
sible toward the necessary repairs
and try and "tide over" until county
assistance could be rendered.
The other delegation was good and
reputable citizens from the Jay Dee
vicinity, whose road needs had ex-
ceeded their capacity, and it was also
their desire to receive help from the
County Court in making very neces-
sary repairs on the St. Louis road.
All the Judges could do was to make
them similar promise they had made
the delegation from French Village,
which was done. This delegation also
departed feeling that the County
Court was up against an insurmount-
able obstacle at this time in doing
what was needed, and what it would
please the Judges to do, in the matter
of helping in good road work.
Does it not seem strange to you,
Mr.. Citizen, and Mr.. Taxpayer, that
the all important matter of good
roads would be permitted to drift
along in such q careless and ineffi-
ciert manner as it has been drifting
in st. Francois county for these many
years Think of the citizens of st.
Francois county. being constantly
stared in the face by the menace Of
impossible roads. This is one of the
wealthiest counties in the State, and
conditions are such that the cost of
permanent good roads would cost the
citizens Of the county the lowest pos
sible minimum, by reason of the enor-
nous mineral wealth of the county.
The conditions in st. Francois coun-
ty, in regard to roads, invariably
causes The Times to wonder what the
good citizens throughout the county
are thinking about, when they, appar-
emily willingly, permit such condi-
tions to continue, when they could be
so easily and permanently remedied.
Why don't few citizens, iii different
parts Of the county, put forth just a
little effort, circulate petitions asking
for vote on the good road bonds,
and present such petitions to the
County Court. The Court would very
willingly call for s,,ch an election. and
then it would be entirely up to the
people to decide whether or not they
really desire roads that can be de-
pended upon, at all seasons Of the
year, for safe, economical, easy and
rapid travel, regardless Of the wealth
er or the season.
If you really want good roads, there
is a way to secure them. But they
cannot be secured without an effort,
though such effort would be compar-
atively slight, under existing condi-
tions in this county. ARE THEY