The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1882-03-01
PUBLIC ROADE-HQW TO M
PROVE THIN.
IAOf n IAb4A
KnoxxiIla chronieI,

ime a common and almost univer-
al topic of conversation, it may not \
e inappropriate to try and throw .
ut some suggestions that may pos
IDLY lead to intelligent methods by !
which they may be improved. Safe, I
,asy and rapid transportation is one
IF the greatest material blessings to !
any section, and it is the opinion OF
all right thinking men, that the mis-
cradle roads throughout East Ten
nessee are doing more to retard our
beautiful country than almost all
other Influences. Why is it that
lands in Kentucky are worth from
500 to $3.50 per acre, while In East
Tennessee, the best watered country
ON earth, with a climate the most
favorable, with soil that is gener-
Gus in the extreme and and
scenery nowhere eIcelled, lands as
fruitful as any in Kentucky, are
worth only SO to 1925 per acre?
The answer is ready and the solu-
ton of the problem is easy. In
Kentucky they have good, maca-
dam roads in every direction, giving
easy and rapid communication all
the year; while we have mud holes
all along our public roads, which
not only make travel slow and hard,
Tf,ut absolutely dangerous, and dur
Eiae.at least six months OF the year
fand that, too, at a time when the
people most need good roads, our
public highways are simply impass
liable. Have we ut our command
] any means at all Commensurate with
the task of improving our roads.
Most surely we have. AS atpresent
managed, the convict labor OF the
State is absolutely lost to the State,
and inures only to the benefit of the
Iessees of out State penitentiary, and
convict labor is brought into direct
conflict with the honest hard=work-
ing mechanics. Have the people ali
over the State see to it that mon are
sent to our Legislature and constltu-
tional convention who, can and will
find a solution of this question.
Change our present and cumber-
some system of county magistrates
Knox county has to-day ten times
as many as there is any need OF
Have the qualifications for magis'
trate raised. Make in incumbent up
, on every magistrate before inducteI
into Office to pass strict examln&
ttion as to his fitness, and put oul
very best men into this, the mos
. important position of the county
.. Change our organic law and maxi
crimes less than capital simply mis-
demeanors, punishable by fine AM
! imprisonment, and give the magia
trates original and concurrent juris
diction in all misdemeanor cases
with power to empsnnel a jury OF
Z, 9 or Il men, IL the party brough
before them demands a jury. Whe'
a person tried for any misdemeano
;; is adjudgsd guilty, let the magi:
:, trate-pass sentence, and, instead {
sending him to the penitentiary
! put him into the custody OF you
road master, and let him work OF
the time on the public roads of tn
country; and, after working out tn
20 time for which he is sentenced, the
let him pay back to the county I'll
cost of his conviction, either
y money or in manual labor at
much day. Would it pay Knc
- county to adopt such methods? III
y cost of this class of prosecutions do
. not cost the tax payers OF hnC
i county less than $4,000 a year, al
for this outlay she gets back abs
lutely nothing. For all the good
= does, this large sum OF money, tax
- each and every year from the to
~ ing people, might as we'll be throw
into the fire and burned up.
~ Suppose it cost Knox county 81
900 to clothe and feed, guard a
work her convicts, what would S
.. gain At least the value of all Il
~ labor expended upon the roads
! the county, And if properly a
~ :. systematically managed by co
petent road-master, elected by
- intelligent magistrates OF the col
- ty, aud subject to the direction
. its chairman, with the prol
- surveys made by competent s
- veyor, many miles of good maead
roads could and would be made, a
IS the county would be as much /
o. ter off as good roads would mi
- her condition than no roads at
r This, of course, cannot be done
- day or a month, but if you,
y Editor, and the editors al! over
nc State will take this matter in hi
in. and agitate and just keep mp
ent agitation long enough, you will-f
tee that the people only want to be
lightened upon this subject, and
you can place them in possession
su- Aha. facts- they will see to it t