Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-01-10


Our whole system of public roads is exceed
ingly defective, prehaps more SO than in any
other state in the union, imposing the burden Of
keeping it up upon that portion OF our fellow
citizens least able TO bear it, and who have the
least use for it after ii is kept up. Many per-
sons are compelled to work on the public roads
many ,lays in the year, who have net the ti,ne
to do so without pay, and the necessities OF
whose families need the proceeds Of their en-
tire labor for their support; while on the other
hand there are who are either able physically to
work them, or maay who are exempt by lawfrom
working them, pecuniarly TO pay for having it
done, and who derive the greatest benefit from
good roads when they are made, by the GU
HANGED valne good roads importe 10 their prop
ertv. and Increasing the comforts and facilities
Of travelling over them In view of changing
or modifying oar present system, most respect
fully call vaur attention to the system OF keep
ing up public roads in the states of ohio and
PENNSYLVANIA, where property aud other taxes
are levied fr the purpose OF K,epin@ mp the
roads aud highways, and thereby carrying out
the principle. that the individual who derives
the Greatest benefit from having them kept up
and in proper condition for the travelling public
shall paw correspoudingly for the benefits thus
conferred. All persons should Contribute TO
the supnort Of the government un1er which
they Ike: in proportion to the protection they
may receive from H. Our present road system,
il must lie conceded by all, operates most I'M
Justly and uneqnallv upon the great mass OF
the people. and on int to be changed. ! there
FIRE recommend to your consideration the pro-
prietv of 50 ch;tncng or modifying the present
system rs t. rpn Form il TO the requirements OF
the public adgement and wants oi the country,
and that it ha done during the present session
OF the legiala ure.
BANKS.
The Bank of Tennessee is represented in
report made by the President 10 the General
Assembly Oh the 10Th day of October last. rs
being in a sognd and prosperous condltlcu.
while the Bauk is Un.,et1ong an investl cation
bv a committee app Iinted hy the Legislature
fr that purPosc, viii refrain from exprcssln.-
ans opinion ia regard To IS present condition.
or making anv definite Recommendation a. To
hal coJrs, the General Assembly, ought to
take IN reference to It's future mana cement.
more than, however, barely 10 suggest that the
pr, seat wuuld be a very suspicious time tn put
the principal AMI all the branch banks into
gradual hquidttiui,; giving ample and feasona-
bly time 10 all persons who are Indebted to the
institution u make arrangement tgr paying the
amount they owe. The process OF winding II
up at the present time can be made SO gradual
and easy as not 10 enharraSs the indebted
portion OF the community in The smallest de-
gree.
4 number Of Banks have gone into opera
ton under law passed by the last General
Assembly, and others, no doubt, Will soon com
mence which will more than supply the vacuum
created by the withdrawal OF tie Bank of len
nessee. and furnish all the banking facilities
needed by the whole business portion of the
country As the capital of the bank is with
drawn, it can be proGa iy invested Ia the bonds
of The state bearing ;lm interest oi six per gent
per annum which viii be the safest and most
iuliciouS investment that can he made with the
common school and other funds which are now
in the Bank of Tennessee and under the con-
troll ofthe state. If the state can, III any reas-
enable time, dispose OF the stock owned in the
Union and planters Banks upon good terms,
or all other stocks owned by he state, it would
be equally wise. safe and judicioas to make
like investment with the proceeds of such
stocks in the six per cent bonds of the sta.e.
The number of internal improvement works
which have been commenced, and which are
entitled to aid bv law from the state, aud the
great number Of others that are commenced,
which wi require the s3uanceof a large amount
of state bonds amounting to many mlihonS ot
dollars. will absorb the entire capital OF the
State Bonds and all the stocks owned by the
state. if they are invested in the bonds Of the
state. as already indicated; which investment,
in NV iud cement, will he far safer and more
profitable in the end, than in any bank, stale
or private.