Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-08-19
Our Public Highwavs,


AlESsRS. EDtTORs: Few persons accustomed TO
travcl over the public highways Of our county
can fail to sec, and often feel, that there is
something radically wrong in The present system,
| o. roadwork From year to year our citizens
arc taxed and fined or forced 10 spend frem iiy @
| TO twelve days to pcrpetuatc Il mere legalizcd
farce misnamcd roadwork, by which the roads
are often left in worse condition than they
were before the working The writer oauuot
| but think it hard as we'll AZ unjust TO be taxed
! for tho exronsea OF keeping up tho public high.
! WAYS III one way nnd another, and then he colu-
| po'ied 10 leave his business and homo for day ),
| together for DO compensation whatever. There
! - itle That can reasonably be expected from
men who nrc compelled To labor without fee n
r"wnrd, henco the character of tho roadwork v e
often sec through the county. The present
! system has been sufficiently tried 60 convince
nv. fehsoDabIc mind that something better is
demanded The condition Of mauy Of our
! nam ihoronghinros is IN many places, actuaii y
| dangerous Many Of the roads nre 10 laid out
! ns - make II exceedingly difficult If not im
possible 10 keep them in n condition 10 be
Travelled In such puccs the public good de
n'ands hat snch alterations and changes should
| he made ms would promote and facilitate travel;
hui nndcr the present arrangement there il
! nci'h'r the necessary time nor akil at command
| 7" accompiith any really advantageous results
fh"re IS doubtless nearly ii not quite sufficient
! sun Of money expended in ono way or another
under the present code 70. !! jiudicously applied
| givo us as good roads rs can be found in apy
county 10 accomplish this desirable end the
writer would merely suggest some thing like the
! following plan
! llrst. That OH next LeEslaiur be requested
10 revise or repeal the present road laws n
! least IN 50 tar as they feet Ooonoo county. and
III lieu give us law empowering our citizens
! through their commissioners on otherwise, to
! dv'he tho public highways into sections Of two
! th ten mllea according 10 the nature OF tho
! ~orh 10 be performed; that each section be lie,
! out 10 the lowest responsible bidder who sha II
! eNyo bond with approved security foY the faithfu
! performances OF mis- duties; that each such bidder
! 90 empowered 10 employ from on. 70 Ten hand .
! aH me work may require at siipuiated monthly
"&EFS ,'oAYlc'S if""n TIE courts on short sen :,
tencss cnn!d 80 u'i,aati here and save the county
! cons dnrahle cosrs3
( Seohnd lhat general superintendent be
! appointed as shall ne deemed best either by
o!cc'I"n or otherwisc, whose ,,usy IL shall be TO
! VISIT cnch section at least oucc II mol.t!. to cx.
J amino nnd receive nr reject the work performed
TO rrg or Gtvo orders tho proper oiicers for nav
mont OF expenses; when necessary to survey and
| ny out proper grades Tor roadbpds and all 9th or
Hnon dh'icS az may dcYoivc upon him as 81, :
! prrIntcnlGn OF roads and bridges. Said officer
/ To receive SUCH compensation rs the nature of
! hiS "ork may demand, nnu also 10 give proper
aecnritP for DO faithful discharge Of the duties
| Of his Office
/ Such Iaw would do away in Il great measure
! INC necessity TOT Iounty Commissioners; and
tiolr o;hcr duties could be performed by the
/ | lcrk OF the Court some thor officer of tho
| government, and thus do away with that con-
| corn.
/ ne wrItor presents no above as q hint for
the consideration Of his fellow. citizens by which
nc ana they by little additional tax tperhaps)
may &c, rid of the Inconvenience and grievance es
! OF the present inefficient and almost worthle "a
| system OF road working
Tho writer la not prepared to assert but
| believes that the amounts paid as road "a
bridge tax, the salary Of county oopmissionorp
Hherlng. Jail fees for board of eonyiete So
! "ou'd 40 lar 10 maintain the system he recon-
] incnoo' lhat IL is the only proper and inst
means by which we can expect to posseso and
onloy tno pleasure of travelling over good ievel
ana ehoota Soaas, no thpks few viii deny
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