The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1881-08-11
BOLIVAR T'ENN.,
AUGUST Bird. 1881.

AUGUST Bird. 1881.
Mr.. EDIT0R:-It is now four months
since the new road law went into effect,
By which, the old system of working
the public highways is changed, and
the care and repairing of public roads
is placed by law in the hands of Road
Commissioners and overseers appoint
ed by them. Other counties over the
the State have organized under this
law and are now busy preparing the
roads while the duh season lasts and
before the crops are ready TO be gath
cred. The writer's informed by Con-
missioners in Faycttc and Haywood
counties, that they can with the six
days OF labor required by the law. Put
and keep the roads In first-rate order,
and they speak in the highest terms of
the opportunity afforded by this law,
to. keep up the highways of their coun-
ties.-How Is it in Ilardeman? What
have the Commissioners done? Have
they even organized in their districts
by appointing overseers, and requir-
ing work to be done? In some of the
districts. it it said the Commissioners
refuse to act at all. So that in most
of the country we have no overseers,
and the public roads are to be entirely
neglected for that reason. And yet
the farmers must know the winter IS
coming and the rainy season when the
roads will be impossible, unless
worked, for transporting their crops,
and merchants should consider how
greatly their own interests will he af-
fected, by not having good roads to the
towns. Why is it, Mr.. Editor, that
often counties around us go promptly
to work, and our people are listlcss, or
indifferent-to their best interest.
Why is it that commissioners in Fay
cite are enthusiastic in their praises of
the law, which they have tried, and
here we are hearing cracking notes of
displeasure of the law, which has not
been tried. Is it want of public spirit
and enterprise among our people?
What is the use Of spending thousands
of dollars for bridges and leaye the
roads approaching the bridges impas-
sable this winter. If nothing else will
arouse our people to a proper sense of
their duty, will not selT-interest stilnu-
late them? If the commissioners APP
pointed refuse or fail to qualify and set
an example of public spirit for the fu-
lure, doeslt not behOove our mer-
chants and farmers, as matter OF
selfinterest alone, to take the matter
in hand? | fear, Mr. Editor, we have
here in the Bolivar district, two much
complaining about the defects of the
law, and two little of willingness to
| try the virtues Of the law. 1t is true
there are defects because it is new,
and must be tried to find out where it
needs amendments. But there is
I enough to keep up the roads, in the
law, and as those Counties which are
now trying it-have found. 1t is even
q good law with its defects. If we
only had the spirit of willingness, the
desire to set the bali in motion, and r.
ganize by persuading some good men
of enterprise toaccept the appointment
of Commissioners and directing the
oyerseers to get to W TX while the
weather suits, instead Of that fatal spir-
it to all enterprise signified in such ex-
pressions as 4 cant, at cant be done
we would see the public roads imProv-
ed. warn our people that the pres
ent Indifference will cost them dearly
this winter, when the washes and luts
and broken bridges, and other obstruc
tions, interfere with trade and traffic
"A word to the wise Is sufficient"
CITIZEN.