Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-07-12
no the cltLzens Of shelby county.

AdIRG pIODOlNAOu VI liz Ph "N
out and removed. TheapprOaches to,
and the long bridge over Hatchie rlv-
er are poorly covered-mOstly without
side-raiIing-and is looked upon by
the travelling public as dangerous,
which ] endorse. The brldge over
Wolf river is good. At each, oil Is
collected. 1t is q burdensOme tax,
with no real remuneration, giving
lust cause for complaint. The matter
has been laid before the County Com
missioners, and they have appointed,
in accordance with the act giving the
franchise, W. G. Ward, A. IL. Hunter
and w. d. Nelson to examine and re-
port upon its condition,
The Memphis and Randolph road
leaves the former road one mile beyond
Wolfriver, crossing Havchie by a ferry
seven miles from Memphis. The boat
is small and inferior. This road to
and from the river is almost impassa-
Ble. A petition of many citizens re-
siding beyond this river has been pre-
sented to the Board asking for a bridge
over it at or near this point. In ac-
cordance Herewith ajury of view con-
sisting mostly Of practical railroad
men and reliable citizens from the
country were appointed, first to in
quire into the necessity of a bridge;
second, TO report upon the best and
cheapest kind of a bridge, wood or
iron5, and it is hoped and Beloved they
will also report upon the general plan
of bridge building suitable for small
and large streams best for the
county to adopt. 1t is certainly
true that the kind of bridge
building which has been carried
| on from its organization, is very eX-
pensiVe. On an average new bridges
have had to be rebuilt every seven or
eight years.
Half to three-fOurths Of a mile be-
| yond the Hatchie on this road is a
| deep slough, about fifty feet wide,
which needs bridging. Its banks are
high and the sills would only need
~elevating sufficiently to keep them off
| of the ground. Probable cost, 500. 1t
has been recommended. On reaching
the forks of the road l passed on to the
/ Cuba Road. Near F. Hester's a
change is required, and also at Mr..
/ Wilson's, 10 as TO cause the road to
run on lines dividing farms, instead If
angle across valuable fields. JurIes
of view have been appointed to act
upon the same. Such changes should
be made when the ground will permit
and the distance is not greatly in
creased.
The bridge over Crooked creek be-
ing old and dangerous, commissioners,
consisting of DR.. Irby, the Stonalls,
| etc, were appointed to have it rebuilt.
After advertising for bids they let it
/ out at Sl9S in county warrants.
THE HUNTER ROAD.
The bridges overSpring Branch and
Bear creek are good. / did not ex-
tend my ride to ROyster creek, learn
ing the bridge over the same was in
| good condition. This road is bad.
THE TELEGRAPH ROAD.
The northern portion of this road
/ near Chamberlain Jones' and W. d.
Nelson's is in better condition than
anyOther viewed. 1t was well worked,
showing care and attention, and good
Judgment. In fact, it was the only
road | found pleasant 10 travel over.
| mean no offense. IT is but the sim
pie truth.
The people, or more particularly
the OVerseers, are not altogether to
blame for such a uniform condition of
bad roads, for the good reasons that
they have neither the hands or suita-
bic tools TO work them.
Yet there is, generally speaking, a
great mistake in Judgment in work
ing and repairing the roads. With
the ABOVE exception, / found, If the
water had washed out the center of
the common track, or gullies were
formed across it, they were filled by
blowing or spading upthe hard beaten
track around the bad spots and lev
eled down with the hoe, instead of
blowing out the bitches at the sides of
the road and hauling the dirt to the
center Of the road, thus raising its bed
and giving the water a chance to run
and sepe towards the places made to
collect it. BY working the roads
yearly, or as often as required, in this
manner, in two or three years Shelby
county would be able to boast of good
roads. Now she has not one respecta-
BILE road.
The present place of stirring up the
bed of the road whenever it becomes
impossible, and scratching the dirt
around like a hen with chickens only
makes them worse. The water
naturally centers in these places in
stead of to the side of the road, and
when travelled over deep holes and
bad places are the result. While i'll
they were worked by raising the
center, in q short time the bed of the
road would become solid and
not spongy. There is no question but
the foundation of good roads is in pre-
venting the bottom from becoming
swampy, and in keeping the upper
stratum. The center portion of all
roads. must be drained, and this is the
only feasible way to do it.
l also found the roads were
too narrow-On an average not over
twenty-five to. thirty feet. when
they should be atleast sixty feet. The
land required TO make this changed
would not be missed by the owner,
and the additional width of the road
would improve the appearance of
every plantation vastly and greatly
beautify the whole country.
No city can prosper properly if the
country people and trade which should
pay tribute to ii is cut off by bad
and large tariffs in the wav of
tolls. They ear afford 10 paw such
taxes when they have good roads. 1t
is earned owe and over in the wear
and tear Of their teams and vehicles
II would be wise to furnish every
other road overseer on the main trunk1
roads leading to the city with A road
scraper, they are equal to a dozen
hands. One would answer for two
road districts. The Overseers need notI
and will not work the roads at the
same time. Good wooden scrapers.
iron capped, with iron bows TO fitch
the team TO, can be had for So 3d. All
iron for $14. Each neighborhood could.
without feeling the tax, supply their
overseers with one 1t will be money!
well invested, giving back much
pleasure and q large per, centage in
saving of horse or mule flesh andi
vehicles. In nay opinion the present.
of working roads Is wrong
will not accomplish the object. 1t
should be done by general t~axation