American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-05-08
Our Public Roads.


the public mind to one Of two
to have the existing
laws rigIdIy enforced; or, to have
the roads worked by contract, the
revenue to be raised by taxation.
The present mode of working is
good enough, if there were no ex-
and overseers and hands
were prosecuted for neglect OF duty,
before magistrates. The principal
fault is with the overseers. They
do not keep the hands long enough
on tire roads, nor exact good labor
from them while at work. A few
days ago heard one, a white man.
remark that Overseers diSliked to
report hands for not appearing or
working diligently, Tor fear it would
injuie them in procuring labor for
private use. This sentiment Is
wrong. No one should hesitate to
report hand or Ovarseer, even ii his
best friend. 1t is public duty,
imposed by law on both, and should
be discharged by both honestly, as
long as the law exists. Ii not done,
they should be prosecuted. But
here comes the difficulty. 1t is nat
ural for mankind to resent real or
imaginary injury. The neighbor
who reports his neighbOr is apt to
be disliked for it, and hence hesi-
tates. 1t requires force OF char ac>
ter and u stern, iutiexible sense OF
Justice to enable one to brave the
trouble-a makeup possessed by
only few, and those few hesitate
not unfrtquently from a personal
trouble for public good, liable to
miscoustruction. Consequently we
have bad roads continuously, as not
one overseer in fifty realizes the
obligation imposed, or has pride
enough to do more than "patch" the
roads SO as to pass muster with un-
informed officials. 1t should be
some ones pubic duty to Inspect
the roads aud report their cOndi-
ton.
Every road west of Canton was
reported all right at the March
term of court. They were at that
time and have since been almost
impossible, as every one knows
who has had occasion to travel over
them. A six mule team cannot be
driven over most of them with ease
or safety. Over year ago an OK and
IL horse were drowned in mud hole
right in the middle of the road, III
mid winter, aud no effort vas made
10 repair it until spring.
Az an evidence OF how the pres
ent system Is worked, we will cite /,
single instance. The writer has
frequent occasion to travel one OF
the very worst roads in the county,
and has entleavored for more than a
month to get it woi ked, and finally
The overseer, when threatened with
prosecution, said lie had not receiv-
ed his commission. We proffered
to get it for him, and went to the
Lsheriff's Office for it. There it was
received ON the 9th day of March
by the sheriff, and so endorsed by
him. We carried it Immediately to
the overseer, OH the lst day OF May.
Two mouths, wanting nine days, it
mad lain in the sheriff's Office. as.
the public scarcely able to travel
the road.
The difficulties in The way of exc
cutting existing laws, bring up the
question Of contract work. We
would hail a reasonable tax, with
good roads, as quite u desideratum.
This would be an equitable law il
Lei La nj rrh
partially enforced by arrest and
compulsory work for an allotted
time in case of nonpayment of road
tax. Many persons exempt from
road duty are making money by
professions, and derive as much
benefit from the roads as those who
work, and thus the laborer tolls for
their benefit unrewartled. They
should be forced, by taxation, to
bear an equal share of tbe public
burden. Ouunty officials discharge
duties for the common good, yet
are remunerated by the emoluments
of ,,ff1ce. Is an enforced gratuitous
work just to the commoner and less
fortunate citizeng
A special tax should I've levied by
the board of supervisors, to erect
covered bridges upon brick pillars
laid IN cement, over all such streams
as Bear Greek, west of Canton,
where there is such vast amount
of trav, |, and where accidents are
SO frequent and vexatious. The
writer has seen teams and persons
of all degrees and complexiOns
massed for IA quarter of nile in
the road by distractions at Bear
Greek bridge, and MANY often COM
PEELED to return home. This road is
one Of the main arteries to Canton,
being used by citizens of the lower
end of the county, even 80 miles
away. A safe and permanent struc~
t,re, affording uninterrupted tran-
ait. would not only be credit to
the county, but matter of economy
in the end. The frequent repairs
now necessary are continuous
drain unpon the county, and yet af
ford no safety to life. limb, animal
or vehicle. The crossbeamS of the
Egyptian pyramids are more than
1000 years old, and yet are in a
state of perfect preservation. A
bridge built of painted all-heart
lumber on solid pillars. and properly
rooted, would last for many genera
lions.
Has our worthy president of the
supervisors the tcmerity to initial
.v,.I, N oUcf.,p, a q horain Sunnacto1 4