The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-01-05

To the Editor OF the Herald.

TO the EDITOR OF the Herald.
What is to be done with the roadsS Is get
ting to be quite serious question. Whist
can we do to make them lasting goodH 1t is
proven beyond doubt that the ordinary
way Of working roads will not make them
last through tho wet seasons. All the plsw-
ing aud ditchiug ami rounding up in the
country amounts to very little good. When
tho winter Tsns come on, wagons cut Just as
deep ruts right on top of the round
up as any place else, and teams stall
there as often AS they do in the ditch along
the side. 1t is simply shocking the way the
roads get here in this county land | presume
it is the same in all the closely fenced black
land eountles), during protracted rainy
spell, and no one in particular is to blame
yet. But if they are allowed to run on much
longer somebody will be to blame. Some
thing has got to be DONE The roads must be
looked after in a different and better way. 1t
condition. The people Of the city
Of Dallas and the citizsns Of the
county cannot DO blind to tho
fact that such roads ns wo are having this
winter are detriment to immigration, and
will drive capital away in place of bringing
1t in. Whom mon come here from other
states looking for homes, and md roads that
they cannot drivesn empty wagon over with
out great injury to their teams, they are not
gong TO DO very anxious about stopping here.
There 10 nothing thSt changes the aspect of
Texas so uufaVorably, and gives her such
gloomy and desolate look as cloudy weather
and tSd roads. Sunshine and good roads
is what Texas loves, and without them
che is not herself. Then 10 il not
within the power Of her citizens to make tho
roads 50 they can be travelled over through
the We. spells of weather that come upon
us with greater eRsa aud comfort These bad
road spells are a great hinderanco to trade,
and when they last length Of tins trade
and business In the city is almost parsllzed
by it. Country produce cannot DO taken
IN, though, rs ia frequently the Gaze, three
times their value is offered for certain com
modito', while goods from the city cannot
bs hauled cut. While we are so deeply con-
csfned and euXOds to get new railroads, lot
us show Il little more concern about our
county wagon rolds--let US Ak up a little
batter athume and then we win be better
prepared to entertain visitors. Railroads are
well enough, but Dallas should look first to
her home interests. If she wants to do bic
homo trade she must take moro interest ia
tho thorougbfsrea that lead out into tho
country from her business centre. Other
states build good md lasting roads, Why not
Texas do tho same? 1t will be a heavy eX-
penseto make our roads so they will carry
over the rainy spells safe IA sound, butno
enlerpriso can bo carried on sue
cess.ully without incuring soma expense
think that il a paper should be started
around every farmer would contribute some
toward buying lumber aud panking the
sever roads lending into Dgllasou' thr0ulh
'noso lanes that are so dreaded by every
ian, woman and child VINO lies in the
" o'v 'od have ~ go 10 DSllas to trado.
uH could be raised by private con-
n.uI county could we'll aH0r 10
nr .e 'N toward buying lum5 r and
sukrrooi roads. We trG5t that
VIII o .urkline railroad, now building
from Des, uanettatas tho piaagias to the !
southeast that luwber then can be |
shipped to Dallas ard sold much cheaper
than i. ia now, and tho expenses of planbirg |
the roads in and around Dallas will not be so
great as II would be now, should 1t DO under. |
taken. Should the county or any company
undertake to build the roads rs suggested
above it should be done in tho summer
season, whom they are dry spd smooth. /
had rather pay three cents mile every time
/ 50 into Dallas and have good roads to drive
over than TO murder brain and muscle get
LiDOr there h rouuh thn tnul and ruts