Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-09-20
Nj RnsseII.s Rnad Bill.

sIr. RusseITs Road Bill
No 0re. important bill has been intro
& duced in the legislature this session than
the road bin Of Hon. L. b. Russell, Of
I Clarke county. This question Of improv-
I ing county roads j. being agitated in qui-e
a number Of states a. the present time.
In Missouri and Illinois it Is receiving
great deal x attention. In south Caro-
lima. senator Butler has succeeded in get
ting up quite an interest IN H. A COUPE
+ u weeks OF 80 ago. Gen Ed7s 'Td AcIradt-
I u the last named state. published paper
on the importance II keeping TIE
county roads in good order, which
has been very generally noticed
OIL account 81 the valuable suggestions II
contained and the views expressed therein.
he attempted 70 show that the people.
particularly u remote counties. would
receive greater benefits from good dirt
roads than from railroads. He showed
that railroads were not self-sustaining
unless there were al least so persons 10
every mile along their lines. Farmers
tax themselves to get a railroad through
their counties, and even mortgage their
farms for that purpose, and neglect their
county roads. All they put ID
the railroad they are certain u
lose. and when they get the
road they lind that il does not do them a.
much good a. they expected. South Caro-
lima has already mile Of railway To every
5j3 inhabitants. and yet new roads are
being projected. In this state it Is diff
l.r1ff
there are on paper. but the number must
De quite large. Meetings are being held
IN different parts Of the state every few
days In the interest Of some railway
scheme. We haven't a word 10 say against
the building Of railways. ON the coR-
trary. We are prepared 20 encourage all
legitimate railway schemes. We do not
hesitate % say, however, that the farmers
make a mistake when they impOverish
themselves % build railways and wholly
neglect their dirt roads.
Mr. Russell's bill j. a move in the right
direction. II may not be Just what j.
wanted. Indeed it is probable that sat
isfact0ry road law will be the result Of
experiment rather than Of theory. The
thing for the legislature 10 do is 10 pass
some such law as this proposed by Mr..
Russell. and amend it from time to time as
il becomes apparent where changes can be
made with advantage.
Mr.. Russelrs bin provides superin-
tendent Of roads for each militia district
and as many assistants as may be neces-
sary. u provides that all persons be-
tween the ages Of Is and 80 shall be sub
ject % road duty, and shall work as many
days a. the superintendent shall assess
them. Any one. however. can be excused
from road work by paying the sum Of s.
annually. Besides this assessed work or
9 tax the bill provides for a road tax Of
cloths Of ] per cent. II those liable
for the tax are permitted to work it out
on the roads il is not. perhaps, too high.
IT, however. il is % be paid in cash
IL VIII BE- regarded as pretty
heavy burden and viii meet with
opposition. One feature Of the bill is
pretty certain 70 excite discussion. 1t l.
that which provides that persons con-
yictCd Of misdemeanOrs shall work out
their sentences on the roads. We have
no objection 10 this part Of the bill. The
vagrant law ought 70 be vigorously en-
forced and all convicted under it made
70 put public roads in better condition.
II this part Of the road law is a success.
however, there must be no discrimination.
White and black must be served alike.
Otherwise the law would soon become a
dead letter.
One objection that Will probably be rails
cd % Mr.. Russell's bill is that it is rather
too elaborate, and apparently contem-
plates making too much out Of the office
Of superintendent. IN the Eastern states,
where the roads are kept in such excel
lent condition. the road law is a very sim
pie affair. Each township j. divided into
very small road districts. containing a
few miles 81 road. The county commits
sioners appoint An Oyerseer for each dis
tr-ct who serves for designated period.
unless sooner removed for cause. The
0terseers are paid from a dollar 10 dol
Tar and half for each day they are em-
ployed. They notify those liable u road
duty when their services are needed. and
they keep an account Of the work each
tax payer does. Thi- account j. turned
over % the tax collector who deducts the
amount from the tax PAYERS road tax.
Generally the whole tax is worked out.
We shall watch Mr.. Russell's bill with "A
good deal 81 interest. The need Of "A good
road law is beyond question. The present
law IS little, If any. better than no law.
We hope that Mr. Russell will spare no
effort % have his bill considered this ses-
sion