Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-04-04
The Levee Question

! On Monday next the Quarterly Court Of
/ Madison County meets in regular session.
| The most important question that will
| come before the Court is the leVee and road
| question. In ali ages and IN ali countries
| good roads and leyees have been leading
subjects OF legislation. For ages the coIos-
sal empire OF Rome was held together
mainly By the grand thoroughfares she
constructed, leading into every country
conquered by her armies. They stand, to-
day, in spite OF the waste Of centuries, mon
uments TO the genius and common sense OF
the Roman rulers. Throughout Europe,
and in the older States Of the American
Union, the construction Of good roads and
safe bridges Is a commanding question, and
one that has and still continues to occupy
the most thoughtful attention Of legisla-
tors. 1t is a truth worthy OF all accept
ance, that good roads are the basis OF all
local, and hence Of all national prosperity.
Without them the cost Of getting TO market
eats up the profits Of production, and the
products Of the earth are the subStratam Of
all human wealth and power. The most
flourishing nations, the most prosperous
States, are those where the local roads are
best. The same is true OF countries. For
years Madison county and Jackson have
suffered and lest by bad roads and lmpas-
sable levees. South and West Of the river
lie rich sections Of land, unsurpassed by
any in the county. Yet the best Of these
lands viii net ordinarily sell for rs much
IS far inferior lands on this side. Whyl
Because of our miserable levees. 1t costs
the farmers Of South and West Madison
twice as much to get their produce to
jackson, the best market within their reach,
as it does those living on this side Of the
river. why's Because Of our miserable
levees. The farmers South and West of the
river are forced 10 sell their produce for
less than the farmers on this side. Why?
Because of our miserable leyees. Produ-
GERS on the other side Of the river are absO-
Iutely driven from Jackson, the best interi-
or market in the State, TO smaller, lower
and more distant markets. Why! Be
cause of our miserable leyCes. The county
is annually suffering, by depreciation of
real estate, and ia the deprecated price of
products, over fifty thousand dol |
lars. Why? Because of our miserable !
leyees.
II is estimated, and fairly, that five thou |
sand bales OF cotton are annually driven |
from jackson, to say nothing of other pro- |
ducts, to more distant and cheaper markets |
because, for months each year, and the |
most important months at that, it is next |
to impossible 10 get to Jackson with it. In |
the markets 10 which they are driven, our |
South and West Madison farmers sell their !
cotton FIR one or two cents per pound less |
than they would get for it in Jackson.-
This entails upon our West and South |
Madison farmers an aggregate annual loss |
Of over $50 00O-a sum sufficient in one year |
to make our levees equal to the best mac
adsmized roads. The damage to Jackson |
is almost inealculable. and every citizen Of |
the county is directly interested in the |
Of their capital city.
In view OF these facts it is the duty of the |
County Court to make ALL the levees lead. |
ing into Jackson, safe and practicable for |
all seasons alike. If it should cost ST, 900 !
to do 1t, the money would be well spent, /
because the debt incurred in the work |
would be discharged in few years and |
still the work would remain. 1t Is easy to |
that the money spent on our |
levees, during the past FIVE years, is suffi-
cient to bridge and plank every one of |
them in the best and most substantial man /
ner, and yet the money is gone and the |
Ieyees are worse than ever.
The County Court owe it to themselves |
as public servants, to the County they rep |
resent and to the city of Jackson, in whose |
prosperity the whole county has an abiding /
interest, to give to every citizen of the
county good roads and safe Ievees to their |
capital city. If the Court will rise to the 4
height of the argument and do this neces-
sary work, their action will be sustained /
by every fair and thoughtful citizen
have been tried long enough. /
Every interest of the city and county now
substantial work. The people of /
South and West Madison are thoroughly 4
and deeply aroused on this question, and |
they will no longer accept apologies or ex-
cuses. Gentlemen Of the Court, the PEo-
PIE are in earnest.