Road Improvements

The animal "road meeting" oí the "Washtenaw Horticultural Society last Saturday afternoon was addressed by Hou. E. P. Allen, of Ypsilanto. Thomas W. Palmer who was expected ,failed to put in. an appearance, but sent a telegram of regrets. Mr. Allen endorsed the new road law of Michigan, as the first step in the right direetion. Our present m-ethod of "working out'' the tax in road distriets, which lias been in vogue since 1830, was well enough when the country was new and one's own labor was all he had to give toward public improvement, but the time had oome ior more systematic and scientific methods of road making than were possible nder the old law. The new law provides that the board of supervisors of eaeh county shall have the power to submit to the people oí the county, the quest-ion of ■ electing a board of county . stomers who shaïl have the power to levy taxes tor the improvement of highways, these taxes to be spread apon all the taxable property of the county. Such a law as this, or some modification of it, Mr. Allen thought , sary, ii our roads were to be greatly improved. People were opposed to payitig toll and would not eneourage corporations to undertake the improvement of our public roads f or private profit. Various speakers followed Mr. Allen, nearly all of wham upheld the present law. H. D. Platt thought thase Avith the mast political backing, and not those best qualified, would secure control under the new law. Mr. Stockhig iavored toll roads and belfeved that those who used the roads should pay ior 'them. Andrerw Campbell said our present district system ■was in use in Scotland láO years ago but that the best roads in that country were built under a different and more modern system. Secretary Mills believed road work was done as ïaithfully as any other public service. The farmers were not the ones who were back of this road agitation. Fred Braun believed that our road laws might be iuiproved, but that the act passed by the last legislature was not what was wanted. Maeadanüzed roads, which have been proposed, could not be afforded in our famiiiig communities. It would cost more to merely keep t licm in repair than our present roads cost. Geo. A. Peters thought the present no time to talk about increased taxation. Benjamin Smith called aticiiti'on to the fine roads in his part, of the county, built under the present law. Altor a recese the society appointímI a romniittee to draft suitable resolutiome concerning the death of its tonner secretary, Kmii Baur.