The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1883-08-16

longer than three years. Let us
suppose the average cost on these
vehicles is S. each. Is that toe
much or too little? If correct, they
cost annually $4,000. Now, it is
safe to assume that if the roads
were made good the average life OF
vehicle would be increased to ten
years and the annual repairs not
more than 81 so. / think this
would be within bounds, if the for.
mer premise is correct. Here alone
would be a saving $4,000 in cash
annually in the matter Of repairs,
besides an enormous amount by
reason of the increased longevity
Of the vehicles. This is a tax that
comes out of the pockets of the
people every year that might just as
we'll be saved by the exercise OF
more practical wisdom and fore
sight in working our public roads.
I am satisfied on further reflection
and INJURY have placed the num-
Der of vehicles far to low. There
must be one hundred thousand
vehicles in the state.
1t seems to me these are ques-
tions well worthy of earnest con-
sideration. They are not vagaries
indulged in for entertainment,
but propositions coming within the
scope of every mans experience.
It is not claimed that they are &C.
curate, but serve to illustrate the
point l make and to show that we
pay heavily for bad roads which
could be immeasurably improved
by the judicious outlay of much less
money.
In an enterprising go-ahead coun-
try time is money where the people
are active, Industrious, vigilant,
progressive. If time is money,
what vast sums are expended upon
our public roads? Here is another
tax-heavy tax. Time spent pull
ing and hauling, "geelng and haw-
ing" swearing and complaining,
is very unproftably spent. There
are many sections Of twenty miles
of road in Edgefeld County, and
no doubt in other countries, that
cannot be travelled in winter in
less than three, sometimes four
hours, whereas not more than an
hour and half ought to be required,
and they can be made so that not
more than an hour and half would
be required. Would it not be better
to repair the roads and save this
time to be used more proftably and
avoid the fortune of mind and body
and loss of vital energy and force?
It would seem so.
1 might cite other facts showing
the extravagant cost of our road
system, but they would only be
cumulative. If your roads cost
the one-half, or the one-fourth, or
the one.tenth of the amounts above
stated, they would be the most ex-
pensive nuisances that any people
ever supported. But I have not
oyerstated it. I have not in
cluded the annual tax we pay
for the building and repair of
bridges, which is a tax upon
property, and in the aggregate for
the whole State must reach a large
sum, and which l cannot give be-
cause my inquiries on that point
have not yet been answered. I
have not referred to the increased
expense to which every man is
subjected in the additional horse
power he must use to transport his
family and products over the hills
and gullies and through the mud and
slush he encounters in the public
roads. Two mules will haul four
bales of cotton over a properly To-
Gated, well-graded and well-worked
road as readily as four mules, now
get along with the same load. Ap'
ply this proportion to the internal
commerce and transportation OF
this State, carried on by horse
power, and some idea may be
formed of it's extent. This is 8
part of the cost the people pay to
wards, maintaining their public
highways, and no insignificant part
It might be saved by good roads
NJ. C. BUTLER.
There is a man living in Georgia