Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-03-30
PIziEaNr@i
Our Local Affairs.

q. The recent prcsentmeut of the grand jury
has brought prominently before tho people
several important and interesting subjoots
and these we propose to consider in this and
perhaps future issues of tho COURIER.
tf First, The public schools present them
selves at every turn. They are vital to the
people and the grand jury is right in en-
deavoribg to utilize them to the fullest ex-
tent. From its organization to tho prcscnt
the School Commissioner office has been
A looked upon as q fifth wheel 10 very ims.
perfect and incougruous system. There
fore, in our county, it has limped it's way
along without the sympathies Of the peor
pie, chiefly because Of the expense at
tached to it end taken from the free school
fund. In truth, without imputing blame to
any one, 1t has never been properly organ
lied and furnished with books and furni
ture. We are glad to see, however, that
this is TO be rcu,edied, aud the office, which
seems now to be o fixture, is to bo put in
good working condition. Books and fur.
niture are to lie furnished, so that the .ih-
oumbents of the office may do tho best pos.
sible with the means at their command.
There is prospect that Congress will aid
the States in educating the ignorant. IF
this is done, and the fund is placed at tho
disposal of the State, much good may be
accomplished by intelligent application of
tho fund so appropriated.
Second. Our county Jail Is not very safe,
but perhaps it is as good as wooden struc-
ture can bo made. II is certainly very uu-
comfortable in cold weather, only one room
being warmed by an ordinary chimney fro.
Oftentimes, We regret to say, the Jail is full,
not only of men, but sometimes few of
the gentler sex, finding their way into it.
Now, there can't bo much comfort in the
Jail. ln summer it is badly ventilated. thero
being only few very small windows. In
winter discomfort and suffering is obliged
to take place, because the majority of the
prisoners have no ohanco to even see, much
less feel, the comfort and cheerful effects of
tho fire. We hope the jury and tho County
Commissioners will be able to devise plan
whereby the prison can be made reasona-
bly, comfortable and healthy, both summer
and winter, and this without much ex-.
penso. Humanity in this direction de-
manda something at our hands. The Fed
eral Government uses the Jail for its prise.
uers aod ought, in common fairness, to aid
in making it comfortable.
Third. The public roads and bridges
always demand attention aud consume the
time and taxes of the people in keeping
them in passablo condition. We do not
want TO increase our county taxes and there
is really no necessity for it. But are We
not In condition now to build more durable
bridges with the usual amount in hand? We
think il Is good economy to do so, and we
hope the Commissioners will give the sug-
gestion reasonable consideration. Tho
grand jury say truly and well that work
on the public roads should bo more sys-
tematic That, fret, tho people must know
what constitutes public road, (und this
information will be given when the laws are
printed and distributed, y and, second, that
County Commissioners in the summer and
fall should inaugurate system of public
road working that will economize the pub
lilo labor of the county, and also put the
public roads in the best possible condition
and keep them 30. There is moro or LEES
complaint that the road hands are uno-
qually divided--that some work more than
others. If this is true, it may result from
the location of the roads as well as from the
road workers. The townships above us
have number of roade difficult to keep in
repoir, when, at tho same time, tho bulk of
the road labor may be in tho townships be-
low us. BE this as it may, tho effort vii, no
doubt be made again and again to eaualize
tho labor on the public roads. It is not an
easy thing to do, and probably cannot be
done even as proximately as the road au..
thorities desire.
The condition Of the public roads arc
attracting attention throughout tho State.
Before the war our public roads wero gene
rally in good condition. They are improving
n,w and we want to see them made better
from year to year. A correspondent Of the
Anderson h,telligencer contributes something
in this direction, which we print for the
benefit of oil concerned:
RULE /. Every overaeer shall be held re-
sponsiblo for tho faithful and economical
repair Of highways in his jurisdiction. See