The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-12-28
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EoRMa. NoNtla, Bonds.

To the Editor CT the H.r1ld.
A short poist from Dallas in any direction
will iatisfy say observaht person that thor
is something lacking in our people or oil
ciala in regard to roads.
A city OF the iUportancs Of Dallas shonlt
be provided with first clasa roads, ia arst
class condilien fer at least nro to ten ailes
and this couAty should hfye good roads Il,
over it. But it is absolutely necessary fel
the peeploto have easy access to tho city, ARC
the roads arc ia such condition euch Of thC
time that it is barely possibl,
for them 10 get th;rl at all. Vi
course, as travel nears tho city, it is thrown
upon fewer roads, and Of course, those foW
require mere care 10 keep them il good re.
pair. Reads mar the city should b. much
wider straightsr snd better Workqd. FreGl
three to 1--WE miles the travel turned upoS
these few roads is innensO and if not uida
and in the most substantial condition, thcy
arc cut up 80 as to be distrsssingly hard 10
travel. Avid for tho KsIt Ave miles they re-
Qure more width sAd moro asra. In tho black
waxy lands, where tho lanes are narrow and
the grsund wet, il i, horrible. TsSmItsrs
are compsllsd to stop every nfty or one hun
dred yards 10 rest their tsans and clean tho
mud from their wsgoH.whoes, which often
become solid mass frsm the hub TO the
rlm, and requires u crOw-Dr or 1rst class
hand-stick 10 roHovo it.
1t is great wonder that Dallas has any
trade or travel in bad weather, and the people
are, by no means, to blame if they shun a
city they have so much difficulty TO reach.
But noithcr tho roads or the people are TO
blame. Tho legislature has wisely providsd a
tribunal TO take caro- OF this iatores. Of the
people This tribunal 10 co7lpo;ed Of six citi.
zsns chosen b the psopls Of tie csunt,. and
their duties are clearly presented by liw. hey
are 20 zee That suitable roads OF highways
are provided for tire convoEieaea Of tbs pss
pie. L dii6,esce Of taste is somotimts a
does exist and there is u6 accounting for it
in this ingance, except upon the "ArksngaW
Traveller the0ry-iu bsd weather these roads
cannot 10 repsirs6, Or rather "msdo," and
in good woather toess Distinguished public
iuaciionsriaa do no! ace She use Of making
any roads.
But the real reasons are, moot
likely, that the commissioners and the Judges
do not comprehend the magnitude Of Their
duties in regard 10 roads; or Ii they d. have
not the moral coWasn 10 reTfsrn them
Indeed they close their eyes 90 tho real pur-
pert of the law, for fear il will deyolye upon
them duties they have net tho moral Ssursga
70 discharge.
The legislature Of Texas did not contog,.
plata the building Of cities, When they pro-
ylded FOR flrat-class ROADS being sixty fest
wide. Suck width is not adapted to the
travel of roads near city in the hosrt
of such a productive section =, this.
But had wo straight, well-built roSi sixty
feet wide, We would DO greatly ble,.d. In
every attempt thht has bscn made to inn 20
the roads they have bson cos cnt il vic, h
of hfteea or twenty feet Wgs htiansd-if
only sufficient width for two wagons /, pass.
Roads over tho unimproved black ,ads, if
only confaed TO thirty fact from fence 10
fence, are too narrow for the convenicsce of
the people. Nay, it is the duty of the CON-
missioner eour. 10 see that roads are pre-.
yided, and Of their own velitisn TO niake
orders 10 opsn and inprtvs road, to suit
the convenience of the people, and il
they had as much interest in tho people Of
thu country rs they have in themselves they
would DO it. Dallas should have ilro or ak
rosds, from three to five miles long, accord
ing TO circumstances, not less than eighty
feet wide, with fifty 10 sixty frst.olasss6eds
for travel, and lge milos beyond that Of net
less than sixty fee. wiiIn. WITH thirty to
forty feet frit.clsss bed. Nothing would bo
more gratifying to the peopla Of Dallfs
county, end nothing moro profitable, 10 its
extent, TO the commercial mon Of the city.
A CITIZaN.