Year: 1860

ready 10 say, you cuHueWu tue ouiy prdcti-
cable way Of making our bad roads good,
as graveling or cause.waying all our roads,
would be an intolerabie burdsn-how can
it be done? That, friend reader, is just
what I want to know myself; and would
be thankful for such information. How
can large amount Of labor and money be
benefcially expended on them in any other
way, than by making an entire uuder-layer
of stone, gravel or wood? I would only
venture to suggest that, if the same amount
of labor as has heretofore been performed,
was done, not at one time but at different
times of the year; if the roads were over
looked so that whenever breaker is cut
through or ditch choked, it might be in.
stantly repaired /; it would be easily done,
and perhaps as we'll under the former meth.
cd of overseers as any way. It would be
well, however, to shorten the Road Sec.
tions, so that overseers and hands would be
nearer the work, when needing their.atten.
ton. For better surveillance, the oyerseer
might apportion his part to each of bis
neighbors; for, then, it would be bette,
watched, each feeling interested in his OWL
part, lest by neglect be should have the
more work to do on it. -yss < -


I doubt whether the late enactment can
accomplish the object contemplated, fully.
Should the commissioners levy a tax to the
extent of their power, all will pay who pos
sibly can, rather than do the work them.
selves, ,afor many reasons: such as the nm,
certainty of the time and extent Of the
work of its distance from their. homes;
and of the character of the contractor, who
might be tyrannical to the hands under
him. "A large fund would Thus be put into
the hands of commissioners; but how car
it be applied on the, roads, so as to make
them good at the least expense? In othel
words, how can commissioners lay dowr
specific rules for letting out each portion
Of every road to contractor, so that be
may have fair understanding of what
work has to be done, and contracts may be
bid down to their value? Otherwise bid
ders would be cautious, and competition
scarce, giving spectators chance of get
ting contracts at far beyond their real val
ue. Even then, to make the best of q good
bargain, contractors will do as little work
and that as poorly, as the commissioners vii
receive-their object being to make mon
ey, and not to improve the roads. This
coupled with treasurer's fees 60, leaves bu
little doubt that considerable amount o
the funds will not be applied in labor OF
the roads, if indeed what is done shall turr
out to be of permanent utility. Besides i
would seem to me to be putting more worl
on the commissioners, class compelled t
be public servants and do much laboriou
service, without fee or reward.


Now let US consider whether the raising
and disbursement of this fund will be equa
on the people. The fund isto be:raised b.
general tax but the more numerous th,
the roads and the worse their condition, il
any given section, the greater is to be th,
outlay, without regard to the question
whether most of the tax was levied in tina
particular section or not. The law thu
makes one end of the District keep up th,
roads of the other, at distance of sixt,
miles, while neither receives much if an,
benefit from the road travel, except to thei
Court House which is in the center.
think this would be putting public benef
Oh an extensive scale, and unequal in it
bearing. Many will agree that Congress
street of Yorkville being Macadamized Isl
public benefit; yet, few will say that tn


whole District should have been equal,
taxed to have done it. It does seem to m


more equitable and just, that each on
should as nearly as possible have the ful
benefit of the tax laid upon him; and thi
can only be done by appropriating the none.
raised in each section to the road within tn
same, or by each road division keeping ul
the road within its bounds. Other instance
of the unequal bearing of this law nigh
be adduced, but I trust enough has beef
said by your fellow citizen, j. R.