The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1922-01-10
Department Has Been Chief
Promoter Of Expensive
Highway Construction
Public Sentiment Demands
Immediate Reform And
Economy Resolutions
State

S0TlOuS CoHBure VI Ine aCLlVltleS OF |
the state highway department, cover.
ing the entire period of its existence, |
Is voiced in resolutions adopted by the |
Knox County Farm Bureau in it's an
nual meeting at the court house |
Thursday afternoon. The preamble of |
the resolutions declares that since its |
creation the department "has been the |
chief promoter Of expensive highway |
construction and the football of city
political bosses, and that public senti-
ment has crystallized to such degree
as to demand immediate reform and
economy"
The resolutions call for the follow
ing A system of farm to market
roads, the use of local materials
wherever available; more miles of
road for the money expended; reduc-
tion in road costs in keeping with
farm products prices; patrol and
maintenance of our improved high
ways; cessation, Of highway construc-
tion unless cost of same is reduced;
abolition of federal aid until more
equitable distribution Of funds is pro-
vided; a policy Of paying as you go
Instead of creating big bond debt bur-
dens; keeping our road dollars at
home in the belief that Taxpayers will
come nearer getting value received
for such dollars; county and township
road officials making their own road
program free from state highway de-
pertinent dictation, believing that our
home officials will get more miles of
good road; demand that the county
commissioners use the 211 mill levy
which Knox county is paying for
roads, in constructing gravel roads so
that all sections of the county may
have good roads.
rsS It also was resolved that 1--WE pro-
test against taking away money be.
longing to some counties to build ex-
pensive roads in other counties; the
dictation of the state highway depart
ment to county officials of the kind Of
material that must be used in road
construction in order to secure feder-
al and state road money; use Of an
unequal portion Of federal and state
road funds to construct boulevard
highways from city for use of truck
haulers and tourists, and the ignoring
by the state highway department Of
the protest Of taxpayers against out.
rageous construction cost and bank,
rutpcy tax burdens"
A reduction of the rate of assess
ment of abutting and adjoining land
owners on state highways is demand
ed. The resolutions also declare fav-
or for the Burke law and demand that
the Knox county commissioners en-
force it; opposition is expressed
against any attempt at reappraisal of
real estate until the taxation system
Of Ohio is SO changed as that other
forms of property and income shall
bear their just share of taxation.
Whereas hunters and trappers have
been wontonly disregarding the laws
Of hunting and the rights of property
owners, 1t is resolved that we con-
denim this practice and demand that
our officials endeavor to enforce the
hunting laws"
The committee on resolutions was
escomposed of H. e. Leedy, John Gun,
ningham and ]. G. Marriott.
Resolutions
Whereas the cost and construction
policy OF highway Improvement in
Ohio has become leading issue, and
Whereas, there is the greatest econ
omic need for farm to market roads to
encourage and serve the producers of
farm products than there is for city to
city roads to serve commercial truck
haulers and organized tourists, and
Whereas, farm product prices are
now below cost of production and
farmers are sorely pressed, by an I'M
favorable period>of depression and de-
flation, to meet the ever-increasing
burden OF taxation, many OF whom are
borrowing money with which to pay
taxes, and
Whereas, the construction of roads
at unreasonable cost, the increasing
tax rate, and the danger that now
threatens the farm and home owners
with reappraisement at increased val
ues, which win mean more tax, and
Whereas, there has been fragrant
neglect to maintain in good condition
the roads on which large sums OF
money have been expended, and
.Lzored by those who profit by the
2 Sale OF expensive road construction,
that the home owner has been forced
in many instances to ask courts to
f..--t..-- 's'r- = it--- - r