The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-12-30
Public Roads.

EDITORS CITIzEN-Surely it is one
of the hopeful signs that our mud
dy and dilapIdated public roads are
receiving some attention through
our public prints. 1t is a burning
shame that our town and county
will permit them to remain in their
present condition. Our public road
law is almost a dead letter. Now
that we cannot be blind to this fact
any longer, how long before we shall
clamor for better one?
In the country, we think that Pu
laski has pursued a suicidal policy
in reference to turnpikes and public
roads and that, without more enter
prise in this direction, the valuable
trade .she ought to command will
be turned into other and more in
vlting channels. Now and then she
is taught a lesson; we trust none
Will cost more than one impressive
ly conned a few evenings ago by a
number of her citizens who went
out into one of the rural districts to
attend a most pleasant party. There
were about u dozen carriages and
buggies, filed with happy and ex-
pcctant parties, and all went as
merry as marriage bells as far as the
macadamized road extended; but
then came the tug-ging through
the mud. Bright faces grew longer
as the mud grew deeper, and merry
tongues waxed silent in the doubt
and suspense that filled every heart.
But crises came and were frequent.
More than half of that gay string
of vehicles were smashed up, and
stuck in the mud, and all were de-
moralized i'll the space of three hun
dred yards. Fact. Gay young
gentlemen, in polished boots, plow-
ed through the treacherous soil,
mending harness and repairing dam
ages, while their lovely young com
panions in distress made lugly faces
In the dark because nobody could
see them. Strings, ropes, and a few
nails were in demand, while General
director, 10. Lindsey, gave advice.
He Is used to mud.
Strange to say, with all the tioun
dering, vexation and misery of the
situation, not a cuss word, spoken |
or muttered, was heard. Surely |
this was creditable to the town; I'M
less the young gentlemen were
perhaps satisfied that the most en-
phatic language at their command
could not do Justice to the occasion.
Let Us be charitable, however, and
trust that this lesson will sink as
deep into their minds as their bug
gIes did into the yielding soil.
But what can Pulaski do? She
can sit like knot on a log and see
other enterprIsing towns stretch
out their macadsmized arms and
draw away her valuable trade. She
has demonstrated that. There
ought to be five or six turnpikes
out to our county line in
different directions. Pulaski ought
not to build them all, but she ought
TO take liberal step toward it, and,
our word for it, the country will re-
spond.
Pulaski is one of the handsomest
owns in the state, and with proper
enterprise on her part, we should
become very proud of her; but We
have the impression out in the
'ural districts that her wealthy and j
business men are unwilling to spend
! dollar for their own or the inter-
st of the county if they can help |
t. That they are disposed to pur-
ue a hide bound policy which
threatens to leave the town, at no
cry distant day, stripped of the
plendid trade a wise policy would
ave increased. We Relieve more :
LIBERAL one would yet be the wisest ]
economy. But the country is equ
lily interested, and would, we veri
bly, believe, do itsl share. II we !
ant have turnpikes, let US have E
etter public roads, and to this end il
u us demand of our legislature a !
lore efficient law. CoUNr RYMAN.