Year: 1877




stated distances, crossing each other at
right angles and cntting the territory in
uniform squares, as nearly as the sur
face would admit. Then, if there
were any accessory by.ways id I'D.
dition to the main public roads, they
would be but short and properly sup
ported by thoss for whose benefit they
were opened. Thus we would have bet.
ter roads at less expense, because the
public resources would be contracted -and
not seattle red over miles of road of very
little use to the public.


. Second-The antiqusted feature pi
road law which provides for keeping the
public roads in repair by allowing the
populace to "work out their taxes" is as
ridiculous as 1t is inefficient. It has long
since been discsr ded by the older Ststes
pet it still forms the fundamental feature
of the statutes of West Virginia. We
never can, in the nature Of things, hope
to have good roads until our people re-
linquish their tenacious grasp on this an
tiquated sbsurditY.


No matter how much work is ex-
pended on roads, they can Fever be
made permanently and cheaply good,
except by skilled labor. A posse of
green hands called on the road without
reference 70 their qualification or fitness
for such labor, do not care, even if they
know how, to make good roads. Their
sole object is TO escape the pecuniary
levy rs easily and with as little exertion
as possible. The roads are never put in
proper shape by such labor, and the pro
cess is regular. burlesque wherever en-
acted. ....


These are the two promiDe ent reasons
that occur 70 US why we have
expensive roads, and, at the
same time, bad roads. There
are many others that we have not space
to notice. Yet we cannot dismiss the
subject without calling the attention OF
the people to the fact that we have
among the statutes of West Virginia q
law which is called the alternate road
law Why it is made an alternate" q
kind of dernier resort and stuck
into our statutes IN kind of
timid way, as though the Legislature was
afraid of it, we never could understand,
because it has been proved to be the very
best provision for securing good and
cheap roads ever put in operation. 1t is
the secret OF good roads in Pennsylvania
and in all the New England States. 1t
provides for selling the public roads at
auction, in sections of from one to five
miles, every year, to the lowest bidders.
The purchasers are required to give
bond to keep their several sections in q
certain specified condition throughout
the year, or forfeit their pay. The speci-
ficstions can be made SO explicit as that
all the roads would be constructed in a
uniform manner-the centers a certain
height, the cutters certain depth, &c
and the bonds themselves thus becoming
educators in the matter of making good
roads. Persons living along the line of
road purchased by them could afford to
keep up a section at q moderate price;
they could give it their odd hours, watch
it day by day and keep it drained and
smooth, 20 that 1t would cost them but
little labor.


There are so many good, sensible
features in the plan that we dare not at
tempt to enume:ste them. The great
mystery to US is why the law is not il
operation, as measure of comfort and
economy, in every county IN the State.
We regard it as the only solution OF the
road problem that has been offered, and
our only hope of good and cheap roads in
West Virginia.