Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1875-02-10
what GraInRer Couuty Man SRys
About Roads.
TO the Editors Of the Chronicle.

TO the Editors Of the ChroHiele.
The question of roads being under
consideration, / would like to say Ia
word on the subject, not that have
anything new to offer in regard to the
matter, but more especially for the
purpose of adding my line To the
Zine upon line" which it will prob
ably require to induce our Legislature
to go to work and do something to-
ward accomplishing "A consumma-
ton most devoutly wished for.h
would have spoken sooner, but owing
to a natural feeling of reserve on my
part, | hesitated to take the floor when
there were 80 many Others all speak
| ing at once but now that u britf
pause occurs in the rapid flow of justly
indignant speeches from various MEM
bers of the independent order OF
| CHRONICLE readers who have consti-
| tuted themselves into convention to
discuss live issues and furnish few
hints to our Representatives in regard
to the most pressing needs Of the PEG
pie at this time, rise to say most EN-
! phatically that ] am in favor Of "A law
| that will give VIZ good roads.
Ever since / was big enough to know
anything about it / have had feeling
of disgust at the miserable make
shifts y through courtesy, called roads.
| Why, we don't have any roads in this
part of the country. They are merely
pass ways, and sometimes not even
that, for during this season many of
are well nigh, if not entirely impassi-
bic. They usually occupy ground that
won't do for anything else, and |
| l. ala xnsh "A
and turn and go considerably out OF
the way TO 20 over the tops of hills
and down into the hollows rather than
take direct and nearer route and run
on level land. This is an actual fact
and /" there il a second-class
road In this county, where a man can
ride five miles on horseback and not
have to duck his head to keep from
knocking off his hat against an over
hanging limb, l would like TO know
where it is. AS long Is the burden OF
making roads rests chiefly upon those
who have no direct interest in securing
good roads, there will be little or NJ
improvement. An equal distribution
of the cost, as near as possible, in pro-
portion TO the benefit to be derived, is
the only fair plan aud the only one
that will be likely to prove successful.
suppose man owning farm worth
s., 500 raises 500 bushels of grain ia
sell, and suppose by having good roads
to market he saves cents on the bush.
ell, which think il low estimate for
this country, then he could afford t.
pay SIS year toward keeping up good
roads and never lose a cent, and be-
sides for clear profit, he would have
the increase in the value of his land
besides the great saving in all the 9th
er uses of road aside from hauling
grain to market. 1t will certainly
pay to have good roads, and in more
ways than one. We don't expect a
law that will give as good roads all at
once, but by all means let us have
something that will be an improve
ment on our present system-a start in
the right direction, that will gather
strength with time and trial. 1t won't
do to attempt too much at once. The
desired end must be accomplished by
degrees If accomplished at all.
Now if the present Legislature is
ambitious to make name, let it pass
a law to make good roads, law to i'm
prove our common schools, local OPP
lion liquor law, and law compelling
the inmates of our county jails TO put
in their time at hard work, and II will
deserve the plaudit of "Well done
thou good and faithful servant
Amen. H.
Granger county, Feb. 9Th, 1875.