The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-08-14
For tile anderson MtelHgencer.

MR.. EDITOR: noticed IN your Columns OF
February 9th, an article addressed to the
County Commissioners on the subjectof bridges
roads, &c. I heartily endorse every word the
writer uttered, but must beg leave to say that
he has not gone quite far enough. Let us have
permanent bridges, with stone piers if piers at
all. But let me here suggest that we have self
supporting bridges, with stone abutments-the
stone to be hewn and laid in lime mortar. Let
us have no piers, or at least as few as possible
raise the bridges above. high-water mark, and
cover them in. By putting up such structures
we not only guard against high water, drift
wood, &C., but we protect them from the wealth
er, both rain and sunshine. 1t is not one time
in ten that bridge is swept away by the force
of the water alone, but by the drift-wood that
strikes it. Why put up such corn-stalk fab
RIGS, that are liable to be swept away in two
or three years-yes, may say month or even
week-ata a cost from $500 to $4OO7 Why
not at once build bridge or bridges that would
last for quarter or half century, at very
little additional expense, and not have our ears
rung out of our heads from time to time with
the cry of taxes to build bridges? Why this
enormous expense from year to year? Why
this waste of time and labor? 1t is not unfre-
quently the case, at the present time, that we
find our bridges out of repair, banisters all of,
if any were ever put on, sleepers decaying
and falling out, flooring decayed or out of its
proper place, ioften botb,) not at all safe for
wagons or vehicles of any kind, and 1 might
almost say hardly safe for footmen!
As this is about the time that our highways
are and will be worked out, Tor rather worked
at,) let me call your attention to that subject
for one moment For the last ten or fifteen
years, our roads in many places have been very
much neglected. We find them in many in
stances almost impossible. In fact, may say
altogether impossible during the winter season.
Wagons and other vehicles have to take the
woods and old fields, and have seen. fences
thrown down and farms driven through, in Or
der to shun these terrible places. Who wants
his wagon or vehicle of any kind broken down,
away from home, with loss of time, and an ad
ditional expense from five to twenty dollars for
repairs? Why not at once work out the roads
thoroughly, put them in good condition, with
good ditch on either side wherever needed
and it can be done, and then fill up the centre
of the road with dirt and dirt alone? And
away with your poles, brush and trash that
have no durability about them. We often see
a company of hands start out to work piece
of road, with only a few tools fit to work with,
and spend from one to one and half days,
rarely ever two days; leave the road in but lit
tie if any better condition than they found it,
and in many cases think badly damaged; the
work received by our authorities, and the pub
lie has to travel over these roads at their own
risk.
Let us have substantial bridges and good
roads with easy grades, and show to the world
that we live in a progressive age. Is this COM
mon sense or not? How long will the Com
missioners of Anderson County sleep over this
great public interest? G. NJ. L.