The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1872-11-15
Correspondence.

After the Battle--A few Practlcal
Hints Suggesting Reform In the
Road Law.
zEDrToR REpUBLICAN-The Radical
uerty appears to be the party OF reconcil
ation, after all; for the opposing, party
are apparently perfectly reconclied 10
their fate, since their late overwhelming
defeat; and appear to be more inclined
to quarrel among themselves, than to
find fault with the Republican pa rty.
They are particularly bitter against thelr
distinguished leader, and denounce him
on ali sides, and say that they could
have made a great deal better night
without his assistance; whilst he Is
equally severe on those ofhis " party
that fail to appreciate his " dlstin,
guished service. He says that though
! his desperate charges on the enemy
ranks did not demOralize them to any
yery great extent, he can say (uslng the
Language of the immortal Falstaf at the
| BLOODY battle of Shrewsbury that he led
I his ragamufius to where they got terri
biz peppered; and that he came out OF
the Fight with about as many followers
as did the gallant Sir John. BY the way,
| though SO dissimilar in personal appear
auce and other nOnossential particulars.
| he is a great admirer, and imitator, OF
| the Fat Knight, using his stratagmes for
his own preservation, in more ways than
one, during the late campaign: l hope
| the officers elected by the Republican
party will not betray the confidence re,
posed in them by the people. And
| though not so loud in their professions
of reform as the OPT osing party; l hope
| that they will prove by their acts that
| they are the genuine reformers. Even
our late enemies admit now that We elec-
| ted an excellent ticket. 1t is q pleasure
| to contend with a generous foe. especial
" if we are able to defeat him. Let
each individual strive to keep up the
good name.
| would like to call the attention OfOur
distinguished Representative e~lect,to our
very defective road law. | believe he
Travelled pretty extensively during the
late canvass, and no doubt observed the
wretched condition Of our public roads
and perhaps he has a plan already ma
tured by which he can remedy this evil.
Is ii because we are not taxed sufficient
for the purpose, that our roads are in
such a dilapidated state? l think that
| the tax is sufficient. Then where does
the evil lie? Let us have the Doctors
answer where; | will not make the at
tempt, but | will mention one, what l
consider, very great defect. Our reform
Legislature, in looking about where, to
begin their great reform, so that they
might save money enough to pay them
selves mileage to take a Christmas spree,
found that the overseers of the roads,
throughout the state, were receiving the
enormous and unreasonable sum of two
dollars a day for their services. This, OF
course, was out of all reason; so they
went TO work and cut it down one half.
These self-sacrificing patriots were bound
to have reform at any price, so they did
not have to foot the bill. And to com
pei these unpatri0tic overseers to sacri-
fee their own interests for that OF the
public, they propose to impose a fine OF
the huge sum Olive dollars on all those
that should refuse to neglect their own
affairs and serve the public at n dol.
lar per day. Now marx the practical
working o fthis noble reform; | will
take my own road district, for an exam
pie. Early in the spring. do not re-
member the datc-the county court ap-
pointed an oversecr. u farmer; In due
course of time the notice Was served on
him. So far all right. The farmer putt
the notice in his pocket to examine nj
leisure; after a time he inquiries into
the matter and finds that his pay is one
dollar a day. 1t is n very busy time; he
cannot neglect his work, and he also
finds that he will have TO pay a hand
one dollar. or one dollar and Il quarter,
and his dinner, to work in his place on
the farm, and then the work would be
done in an inferior manner to what he
would do it himself. The roads are in
a terrible bad condition, and it will not
taEeless than % or 30 days to superin-
tend and put them in good condition.
The office is one Of considerab!e respon.
sibility, he having to file 4 bond of two
hundred dollars, for the faithful per-
Torrance of his duty; and. us n road
hand, without any responsibility resting
on his shoulders, he can take his team
and work out his tax at the rate Of three
dollars day. Taking all these things
into consideration. he concludes that it
will be cheaper TO pay his fine Of FIVE
dollars and get off. In the course Of time
another overseer is appointed; he, too be-
ing an unpatriotic farmer, considering
the cost, and not wishing to sacrifice his
own convenience for the public good,
concludes "hc will none oft" and the
same process is repeated no less than
three or four times: until at last they ap-
point 4 man that docs not consider that
he is able to pay the fine, and concludes
to serve; fortunately he is a good, homes,
man and makes a good overseer. But
mark, now, what he sacrifices. He goes
to hauling rock on to the railroad with
his team at three dollars and 4 half q
day; presently the roads get in such {;
condition that he has to let his team lie
idle, and go and superintend the work
ing ofthe roads at one dollar per day
whilst his neighbors, that are working
with him and hold no responsible ohc'
take their teams and get three dollars. |.
this right? Is it just? ] think not. And
besides doing the oyerseer m injustice.
they will not and cannot take the same
interest, and devote the same time, tt
repairing and putting the roads in goo.
order that they would, if paida reasona
bic sum for their services. | believe in
reform; but not in reform at the expense
of the public good FARMER.