GOOD ROADS

[Welland Tribune, 8 December 1910]

The report on the committee of good roads was read and adopted and ordered printed on circulars and mailed to ratepayers, on the motion of Mr. Goodwin, seconded by Mr. Foster.

The report which deals with a scheme for the raising by the county of $100,000 by debenture for the purpose of road improvement, is an interesting one and is here appended.

Report of Good Roads Committee

Your committee report as follows:- Their efforts have been entirely confined to the collection of reliable information for submission to their board.

It was not deemed expedient to call a special meeting of the reeves, as authorized by this board, to adjust the distribution or compensatory considerations to each municipality, as it is the sentiment of this committee that the best interests of the county will be served by leaving this consideration in the hands of a county road commission, to be appointed by this board at its first session of 1911, should this council favor the fast growing sentiment throughout the county by endorsing the recommendation for an appropriation of $100,000 to be expended by the county in a good roads system.

The following condensed data demonstrates what the cost per mile will be and the assessment per dollar will call for as per latest annual report of Hon. Mr. Reaume on Highway Improvement. This has been constructed under the provincial county systems. On the assessment of Welland county the tax would be on a basis of thirty years 4 per cent, debentures, payable yearly, one half mill, or 50¢ on each $1,000 dollars. Thus a farm assessed at $1,000 would amount yearly to only 50¢.

And we would further recommend that the clerk be instructed to have the report of the good road committee as presented at our June sessions printed in a circular and distributed before nomination day. (Signed by McKenzie, Smith, McGill and Goodwin, committee.)

Mr. Foster spoke on the goods roads question and said the farmers were commencing to realize better than ever before the financial advantages of good roads. “Bad roads are more of a burden than good roads,” he said, “and the farmers are becoming educated to the value of good roads.”

Mr. McGill, Thorold, said Welland county was about twenty years behind on the roads question, and we should have good roads at once. Good roads were of value to every farm in the county, and prosperity couldn’t continue without good roads. Mr. McGill was also strongly in favor of giving publicity to the scheme by the issuing of circulars.

Mr. Wilson, Bertie, said he had heard good roads talked at the County Council for some four or five years. He thought the council should take a trip to Bertie and see what good roads they had there. Money on stone roads was well spent in his opinion.

Mr. Zimmerman, Bertie, also referred to the good stone roads in Bertie and expressed himself strongly in favor of any good roads movement.

Mr. Smith, Port Colborne referred to the good material which Welland county had close at hand for the building of good roads. He thought that Bertie really had about the best roads in the county.

Mr. Berriman, Stamford, also spoke in favor of the scheme. He said Stamford was also working on its own finances on the construction of good roads.

Mr. Fry, Pelham, referred to the fact that several of the townships were already building good stone road and gravel roads and did not need or want any county assistance for this purpose.

Dr. Boulter, Stamford, complimented the committee on its report and said he believed in the issuing of a circular to give publicity to the committee’s recommendations, etc. He said the Stamford people never objected to money expended on roads. The Doctor referred to the automobile tax, which he thought the government ought to refund to the municipalities for the purpose of expending on the roads.

Nearly all the councillors made short comments favorable to the movement, and the opinion was expressed that it would be a good idea for the government to be asked to pay over the automobile taxes to the municipalities to be expended on the roads.

It was suggested that ex-County Councillor, Mr. L.V. Garner, who was present, make a speech. Mr. Garner expressed his great surprise at being called upon, but, in a spirited and enthusiastic manner, expressed himself in favor of better roads in this county. Mr. Garner said that the reeves from the various municipalities should join together and give their support to the movement, regardless of the conditions of their own municipalities.