Good Roads Economy

Governor Mount of Indiana enunciated somo wholesome truths on the road question in his inaugural address. He said in part: Good roads are essential to our highest developinent socially, intellectually and finaucially. Many counties in our state, actuated by a commendable spirit of progress, are rapidly iruproving the highways. In the near future some of our counties will havo a complete system of free gravel roads. The main thoroughfares in these counties, having been graveled and received by the county commissioners, are kept in repair at the county's expense. The supervisor, being thus relieved frora care of the main thoroughfares, is enabled to concéntrate the labor and tax at his disposal upon the lateral roads; heace all will soon be iniproved. The economy in road improvement will soon be demonstrated by the fact that the counties having the best roads ■will maintaiu them atlesscost than the mud roads, with all their inconveniences, are maintained in their wretched condition. The work required by law of ablebodied men, together with the road tax, gives to the road supervisors of our state the expenditure, in money and labor, of a vast sum. Much of this is wasted by reason of incompetent management. The railroad tax for highway improvement in some road districts of our state is so manipulated by the road supervisor that the money inures more to his benefit than the improvement of the thoroughfares. In some instances in our state a brokerage business is carried on, and money is made out of trafficking in this road tax. While some of our road laws need reforming, the manner of their execution needs revolution. When competence is made the test in selecting supervisors and taxpayers see that they discharge their duties, we will find some improvement in our highways without additional tax.