The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1882-03-30
ROADS AND BRIDGES,
Some Sensible Views or an INA.
porEant Subject.

Yesterday mornings EXAMINER CON-
tanned statement, based on information
furnished by 8 gentleman from the
country, that bridge had been washed
away and never replaced on the Moores-
Vile road. Last evening Judge Gerald
cslled at the office, and stated that II any
bridge was out OF place on that road, be
was uniformed OF the fact, and is strong
" Of the opinion that our informant was
mistaken. Judge Gerald also informed
us that the bridge over Tehuac!na creek,
near the rail Dad, had been pulled down
after the high water had reeeded, in conse-
quence OF the banks caving. Preparations
are being made to put another In It's place
at the earliest possible moment. This
bridge will cost the county about 81 500,
and owing TO its expensivene7s the
judge very properly determined
not TO have it erected until suit
able material could be collected for con
structing a substantial one, which would
not become worthless from decay be-
fore some return for the money invested
had been realized by the county. To
this end the necessary timbers have
been ordered from the PIN
cries, TO be OF the long
leaf variety, which is more durable
than the short leaf pine supplied by
mills in onr nearest vicinity. The short
leafed pine, Judge Gerald say
will stand the wear and tear
Of travel and action of the
clements only three or four years, while
the other material will last much
longer time and cost but little, II any,
more. This bridge will be built on cedar
piles, similar to railroad bridges. a
pile driver was finished yesterday, and
the piles have been contracted for;
hence our country friends who are now
Inconvenience by the lack of this
bridge will be rewarded for their pa
tience, in due time, by the erection
OF o structure which Will
be safe and permanent. While
cOnversing on this subject, Judge
Gerald made some remarks rola-
tive to the statute governing
| road working il this state, which struck
the EXAMINER as being rather pertinent.
He spoke Of the law as being grossly
| defective, under the state OF affairs eX-
listing in the south since the abolition OF
slavery. In the olden time the masters
| cheerfully sent their slaves TO do road
| duty when called upon but now, when
| the work must be done by the masters
! themselves in most instances, 1t was
drag to get the labor promptly
and properly performed. It is the duty
| of the oversoers to "warn-Out' the cIt1-
zens Of their several beats at stated Pc
| RODS and az times of emergency, for the
! purpose of repairing the highways
These men who are expected to perform
the labor are neighbors and friends OF
| the overseers, and are not thrilled with
delight at their appearance with sum
mons in hand. They turn out, OF course,
and 20 through the form of road-work-
ing; but do 80 under compulsiOn. The
| result is, the average overseer
Is intimidated, 80 to speak, by the fact
that he il liable to render himself I'M
popular with those people upon whom
he Is dependent III great measure Tor
society and the dearest amenities of life
his Immediate neighbOrs. This feel
ing is perfectly natural, and hos won
derful influence on all mankind, except
III isolated instances, where the better
and warmer instincts OF human nature
are apathetic or DO not exist. No warm
hearted man likes to make complaint
against his neighbor and hunt up the
| evidence 20 secure his punishment by
! law courts, unless the incentive Is some
| thing greater than mere Sinking OF a
duty that is distasteful to ali alike.
Judge Gerald also spoke Of the i'm
proyements which could be made III the
manner Of woodworking, if labor could
be had at the right time and in sutfi-
cient quantity to execute it. For IN
stance instead OF simply throwing a
little loose dirt IN the low places and
| hollows which are the dread
uf AL Texus rOadsters ii bad weather,
if the sides were well ditched and the
centre thrown up to a sufficient heighth
to be permanent. the water would run OFF
as rapidly as it fell, hnd the roads not be
cut up TO the depth of two or three feet,
as they have been during the last three
months III almost every direction from
! Waco.