Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1882-02-11
Roads and Bridges.

We have already said that the ad-
vancement of the material interests of
this section of country would be one of
the primary objects of this paper under
its new management. More especially |
do we desire to see our own county
move forward in steady course of
increasing prosperity and happiness.
To aid in the accomplishment of these
objects we will, from time to time, lay
before our readers such facts and sug-
gestions as, in our judgment, will aid
the farmer, the mechanic, the trader
in short, our whole people in their re.
spective pursuits, nor will our efforts be
less carefully directed to the presenta-
ton of those matters affecting the bust
ness and pecuniary interests of our cit
liens viewed as a unit, a community
showing a common destiny for veal or
for woe.
In this article we wish to direct at
tention to one of the latter clsss of
subjects, twin subject in which every
person living in the county has direct
personal interest, and when we shall
have mentioned it, we doubt not every
reader will admit we have named
great public want. Is there man,
woman, or even child, who doubts
that our county would be both more
desirable and more prosperous it we
had good public roads and bridges' Is
there a farmer who does not know he
could then haul much larger loads, take
puch prompter advantage of high
price in markets, and do all his wag-
= oning in weather unsuitable for work
ing on his farm instead as now of hav-
ing often to be out of his fields in the
very best weather? Is there a land
owner who does not know that good
roads and good bridges not only would
render his residence in many ways
r more agreeable but add greatly to the
actual money value of his land? 1t il
. lamentable fact that our county
=, greatly needs both, and unless a mor'
! intelligent view is taken of our true in
~ terests in these matters we will proba
\. bly, linger on for years deprived Of ad
vantages which we can and will have
true to ourselves. Now let no maj
6 who is sensitive about "taxes" tax
a alarm. We will not only not advocat
Of but will vigorously oppose anything il
s, the shape of needless or oppressiv
N county taxation, or such haste in th
ID accomplishment of even desirable oil
o. jects as will prove burdensome. Gu
n. principal county roads are already b
NJ ginning slowly, and we believe permt
ne nently, to improve under the geners
ID policy inaugurated by the Legislator
re for the whole State, and if this W;
ed supplemented by an enactment PROVE
It ing for working that class of crimina
m who can neither pay fines or costs G
e, the county roads, their improvement
of would be more rapid. Why shoul
ss- the people be taxed for feeding, lodi
.ly ing, trying and convicting such ia
its birds? Why should they be kept id
or instead of made to work out all the
he costs and charges? But while we ms
re- hope for better roads in time, it is
if plain as the sun in heaven our coun
CD will never get bridges over her strear
his under this system. In that respect '
for must help ourselves. And to do IL
asst wisely, we must begin by building o.
CO. or two only of those most importar
IN 50 that this will not bear heavily up
il us. Nor in this matter should :
III, waste money as has been done in t
avs past by erecting structures so fault
m. planned and built as to be swept aw
,ck by the streams, 1t is obviously
of dictate of sound sense that whenev
rye and wherever We build a bridge
VI should be placed above food-tide, ma
of the right materialssnd perman'
ing structure secured. Any other cOu