The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1883-08-17


OF South Carolina is, in round numbers,
about one million, OF was by the Census of
1880. In the ratio Of five to one this would
give us 100000 voters. Now the question
is, are there as many persons liable to road
duty as there are voters The road age is
from 16 to so. The voting age is from 81
upwards. Will the class FROM 16 to 81 equal
the class from fifty upwards ? l should
answer in the affirmative or very nearly so,
and if 81, the number of voters aud road
workers must be very nearly equal. But
we must deduct all persons exempt from
road duty under the law. They will, per-
haps, number one hundred in each county
or $500. We will put the number of "cx
empts" at 1000. We must next deduct all
persons ofthe road age in cities and towns.
These we can get with reasonable accuracy
from the Census of 1880, aud amounted
then to about 10000, and shall base my
estimates on the status Of that year. In the
same ratio of FIVE to one, this would give us
10000 voters in the cities and towns, and
if my comparison is correct the same mum
bcr of road workers with tie 1000 Eek
cmpts" We shall have 1000 to deduct from
the 100000, leaving 10000 liable to road
duty. Let us put it to 100000. These
10000 men are required by law to work
on the public roads "nut less than three nor
more than twelve days" in each year. If
they work the maximum number of days,
and their services should be valued at one
dollar per day-and that is the price fixed
by the law makers-we shall have $50 900
multiplied by twelve, amounting tc 81 ,S0O,.
600 for one year. Suppose they average
six days annually, the cost would be s9OO,-
600. IF dollar day is too much, then
the law is wrong. Estimate it at fifty cents
day and for the twelve days the value of
the labor would be S9oO,O 900, and for six
days S450,0OO
But it may be said, doubtless will be said,
this is not a sound argument or fair calcula-
tion as to the annual cost of public roads {;
that the people dc this work when they can,
perhaps, do nothing else, and is contrbu-
tion in kind to the public service and,
therefore, does not cost the amounts speci.
fled. only adopt the measure Of value
sts'aed sip Peyptes Ss,,R@sstycs
through their representatives. The labor
is worth that much, and in contemplation
of law is expended upon the highways, and
ifso expended, is taken out of the produce
tive power Of the people of the State, and
is, therefore, lost to other channels. l
have seen the time when road hands SUM-
moled out of the field were worth dollar
q day to the crops, and insist it is a legit.
jmato estimate in calculating the cost of
maintaining tho highways. If not bes.
towed upon the roads this labor would or
should te utilized elsewhere, so as to be
worth dollar day to the industries of
the State. One million eight hundred thou.
sand dollars is large sum of money, and if
collected annually aud judiciously expended
on the public highways would work won.
derful change for the better. But the COLI
lection of no such sum or tho half or the
quarter Of il will be necessary, as l think
can demonstrate further on.
This, however, is not the only item Of cost.
Section 1,0S7 of the General Statutes pro.
vides that "Any person who shall receive
bodily injury or damage in bis person or
property through defect in the repair Of
ahighway, causeway or bridge, may recover
in an action against the county the amount
of damages fixed by the finding of ajury.
If such defect in any road bridge or cause.
way existed before such injury occurred,
such damages shall not be recovered by
the person inj jured, if his load exceeded
the ordinary weight"
The next section (1,O88) provides, that
"lf before the commencement of an action
provided for in he foregoing section tho
county commissioners tender to the paint ff
the amount which he might be entitled ts
recover, together with all costs, aud the
plaintiff refuse to accept the same and does
not recover upon subsequent trial sum
larger than the amount rendered, the de-
PENDANTS shall recover costs and the plain.
tiff be entitled to the results of no
verdict" That is to say, if the county
will pay for the repairs of every We.
hicle broken or injured by reason of a
"d,fect in highway, causeway or BRIDGE"
or for every personal injury or damage suf-
fered from the same cause, the party
injured shall not be enti.lsdto recover,
otherwise ho will have that right. Suppose
that provision should be put into execution,
(and what is to prevent it except the for
bearanoe Of the public what would be the