The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-06-16
GOOD COMMON ROADS.

| I.
mere trodden paths, paved, McAdamized, and
plank roads. Good common roads have been
held up as an evidence of a country's civili-
zation, but be this criterion of civilization a
correct one or not, one thing we know, they
are exceedingly pleasing, comfortable, and
beneficial to the people who have the good
fortune to possess them. Throughout the
rural districts, in almost every part of our
country, the people suffer great inconven-
ience from bad roads-especiallyi in the spring
when the frost is leaving the ground, and
during long periods of wet weather. Of this
all are well aware, but even very near our
cities, as we have had opportunities of wit
Messing this year already, the common roads
are also often rendered almost impossible. 1t
would be q. great benefit to our people, espe.
cially our farmers, if all our rural districts
were interlaced and connected with our cities
| by firm and substantial common roads, such
| as would not be converted into rivers of mud,
as too many of them are, by few heavy
showers of rain. The Romans made excel
lent paved roads, Sin the brave days of DID,"
and in modern times McAdam proved him.
self to be one Of the greatest benefactors of
our race by first constructing roads of small
pieces of broken granite. Qf we knew who
the inventor of plank roads was, we should
like to pay him like tribute of respect) 1t
is difficult in many parts of our country to OBJ
tain stones, either for paving or making Nc
Adamized roads, but where the right kind
can be easily procured, the latter kind of
road is to be preferred. We consider plank
roads one of the most beneficial Inventions
for common travel ever introduced into our
country. The materials to construct them
can be obtained in almost every part Of our
extended domains, and we cannot but speak
strongly of their usefulness, utility, and econ
omy, and endeavor to impress upon the
minds of our farmers, and those who dwell in
the rural districts, the great benefits that
would accrue to them by the construction of
such roads between farm and farm, village
and town, country and city. We admit that
no inventions have tended to advance civili-
zation and benefit man more than those which
have been applied to facilitate public travel,
such as steam navigation and railroads, and
it is encouraging to know that our country,
which is naturally so well adapted for rail-
roads, has now more lines in operation and
under contract, than all the other nations of
the world put together. But such roads can
not supply all our travelling wants; common
roads nlways have been and ever will be
necessity. The parties most interested in
good common roads, are those who own car
riages and horses-our farmers chiefly. For
public travel and the transport of heavy
goods, railroads are the grand desideratum.
But when farmer wishes to draw load of
potatoes, or wheat, or butter, a short distance
to market, he cannot afford to pay for steam
carriage to draw the same on common road;
he therefore employs the means which are at
his command; he harnesses his team and
drives it jocund, whistling ms he goes, if the
road is good. There are some who keep con-
tinually bumming about the use of steam car
riages on common and plank roads, but these
are not required on such roads-such roads
are required for totally different Objects
There are some who are loud in advocating
impracticable schemes and exterminating in
surmountable difficulties on paper. They can
vault over mountains on crutches, and march
over seas in paper boots, and yet, somehow or
other, they never do anything Of note, al
though they are always about to do some
thing. If steam carriages could be economi-
cally employed on common roads, those who
have advocated them have had abundant time
and opportunities for proving themselves to
be something more than mere projectors.
We have said thus much about the neces-
sity of having good common roads, because
so much interest is absorbed in our great and
grand railroad projects, that the minor-but
none the less necessary on that account
common roads are liable to be overlooked
The commencement Of the favorable season
for outdoor work on common roads, we con-
slider is a good time for urging these remarks
upon the attention of those who are most in
terested; we therefore hope that while joint
stock companies are making our country the
great emporium of railroad enterprise, that
our farmers and those who reside in the ru-
raj districts will set about to exert them
selves, and make it equally famous for good
common roads.
e3y-The Times states that distinguished
citizen asserts that the brother of the murder
ed Butler-also a teacher in Louisville-will
be compelled, unless he receives pecuniary
aid, to sell his house in order to defray the ex-
penses incurred in prosecuting the Ward tri-
al. He has given $50 Internationally, to
prevent this sacrifice, and suggests that $1,000
be raised in that vicinity. The Times will
receive and acknowledge donations. Almost
commendabe project
n3y- The Leeds Times believes that
Government order for cannon balls of a new
shape is being executed by a local foundry.
They are long, three-sided, and terminate in