The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-10-28
County Bridges.

county, Tor damages accfuinp from the
loss ola horse, occasioned by the bad
condition Of the bridge a. this place.
The Board refused 10 pay, and denied
the responsibility of the county. This
decision of the Board is doubtless well
considered, and while we think that re-
enumeration from some source should so
TO the owner Of the animal from loss &C.
casioned by neglect in some quarter we
are not prepared to say that the decision
Of the Board is not legal and not just.
But this incident brings up question
as to the expcdency Of the county assn
mng control of this whole matter Of
bridges. This is regarded as part ofthe
province OF county government every
where, and while it is doubtless optional
with the people TO say whether they will
or will not assume the burden Of expense
in this matter, i! is certain that the peo-
ME soone: or later find their interests
snbscrvcd By permitting the county to
exercise control therein. In older dis
tlicts We find that the invariabe rule is
for the county TO build and keep in re-
pair the bridges on public roads, and in
many newer districts this is also the case.
In many of the counties surrounding
this, this policy has been adopted, and
the character Of the roads show lis JUS
tice and wisdom. 1t is one of those lib
eral and enlightened policies, which, ap-
pearing expensive at first, proves in the
end economical and for the public inter-
ests.
There is no denying the fact that Blu
ehanan County has had most penurious
public policy, and day she shows to
the stranger and her citizens no eviden
ces Of liberal spirit. Although she has a
Court House equal TO her wants, it stands
grim, and bare, and without particle Of
evidence Of taste or enterprise. For five
years ii has stood there, and yet o.day
it has not particle of fence to enclose
lt-not tree 10 beautify it-not sod to
ornament it. No otEer county in the
State, possessing such building, has
left it thus unenclosed, thus bare of those
cheap and beautiful attractions trees
and shrubbery. Beautiful public grounds
are the pride OF every community that
possesses them, and give rich return
for the outlay, not only in the gratifca-
ton 10 the eye and sense of the inhabi-
tants, but in the esteem they induce in
the stranger. And yet Buchanan Coun-
ty exhibits nothing in this connection TO
CRAFTY and attract. And year after year
is slipping away, and nothing is done.
Nor does she in this matter of Bridges,
upon which we started to write, show a
better evidence Of public spirit. Scarce
bridge in the county is reputable. Our
own is in an abominable condition. That
n, Quasquaton is still unfinished, though
passable. That at Littleton is not by
any means such as the people there
should have Pine Creek, between here
and Qaasqleton. over which a large
amount Of travel passes, is not bridged
at all, and there are many places in sim
liar situation. And all this because the
matter is left TO local communicable
road distric!s--which are really unable
10 fix them. The disposition Of the PEG
pie has been good enough-they are
willing 10 give the labor-but the money
for the materials they could not. or would
not. provide. With help from the coun
IS TO buy lumber and spikes, all these
structures could have been finished sub.
sianlialy. But lille money would make
the bridge at Quasqueton good, hand
some structure. A little help from the
county would long since have cured our
own bridge OF its break neck and break
leg condition and few dollars at the
proper time from the county treasury
would have caused numbers OF slouehs
TO have been bridgod and made solid,
which are now at times almost impassa
bic.
II seems to US that our new county
government should give us more liber
al policy than il was possible for us to
have under the one man power without
yrumGling and discomfort In the pres.
ent condition Of the country we ought
no; to expect Injuries. But good roads
and bridges are not luxuries, but necsssi-
ties. We believe that if the Board Of
Supervisors would extend judicious as
.isaance towards the construction and re-
pair Of bridges on our public roads, that
it would mmeasurably benefit public in
lerests, promote public comfort, and help
the material growth of our county. Com
ing. as they do, from every section of the