The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1881-10-13
Our Public Roads.

1 7
There has been q great deal of specu-
lation about the road law heretofore,
and perhaps no law in our state ever ex-
cited a wider diversity of opinion.
There has been of necessity some jar
ring and conflict of views, and no little
dissatisfaction expressed in view OF
| its provisions, on the part both of tax
payers and others. But the necessity
tor better roads has been recognized by
every one and the testimony from every
direction is that all have labored indus
triously to carry out the law, and it is
just to say that our public roads have
been generally better worked than ever
before. We think that the general good
results now apparent to.every one, have
gone far to dissipate the opposition
which has arisen mainly from failure
to understand its provisions. Here are
now fewer supposed defects in the law,
since we have become more familiar
with its practical operations, and its few
real defects are found to be small and
comparatively unimportant. In the abb
sence of law which required the prop
ertY of the country to perform a part In
keeping up the roads, the burden tall
too largely upon those who are poor and
dependent. Those men begin to see
now that the present law remedies that
deficit, aud distributes the burden rs
evenly as possible. This fact heightens
their appreciation OF it, whilst the tax
payers acquiesce through their sense of
justice so the law is every day becom-
ing more popular, and not only be-
cause it is just to all classes, but also
because its faithful execution Will, in
few years, give US good roads to every
part of the county. We believe the
county court endeavored TO select the
best men rs commissioners, and they in
turn have endeAvOred 10 select tue best
for oyerseers, between whom, in some
sections, at least, there has been spir-
il Of rivalry, which mas eyen extended
to the hands on the road, and which has
been productive of good and We have
heard the complaint made frequently
that the law ought to have given to the
oVerseers more than six days, as the
roads can only be improved in that
time, but cannot be completed as the
law contemplates. go.
We predict that the better condition
Of the roads next winter and q better
practical acquaintance with the work
ing OF the law, will give it great pros
perity in the future. Tho commission
ers, many of whom are over age and
have accepted duty under the law, from
a willingness to assist in the burden Of
keeping up the roads, have labored
earnestly to give to it the greatest eff
cheney. They have found it difficult in
the classification OF the roads and in
the distribution of the hands, to please
every one, but the law very clearly de-
fines their duties, and hedges them
about so closely, that there Is small ne
cessity for an error or disposition to
hazard its penalties. In the light of
what has been done in the beginning
we have made, we may regard the road
problem as solved, and may look for
ward to the day when through its
benefits we shall be proud of our
county, when our good roads shall in
sensibly bind the town and country
and an enlarged sociability |
shall characterize QUIZ intercourse
when the farmer shall derive q great |
profit from his labor, and Will take q
greater pride in improving and beauti-
flying his home, when tasteful equippa- |
ges shall take the place of spring wag-
Ons, and fine saddle stock will Danish |
the "plugs" with which we now con-
tent ourselves, to the plow or wagon. |
We trust that neither the petty annoy
ances (which may follow the introdac-l
ton of the law, nor the seeming hard |
ships it sometimes imposes in individu-
al cases, will operate to its prejudice,
but that with a broadsided experience
and more enlightened and liberal pub
lie spirit we shall give 1t fair trial.
If it be defective, it should be so amend
ed as to incresseits efficiency. We YER
lily believe that its faithful execution |
will inaugurate a progressive growth |
and development OF material interest |
that will place oar good county of Giles
in the front rank Rex