Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-05-10
THE ROADS AND HIGHWAYS.

son of Chester, published in the Columbia
Register of Friday, presents considerations
which will aid greatly in the solution of the
problem which, sooner or later, the people
of the State will have to meet:
CHESTER, S. c., May l, 1882.
Hon. A. p. Butler, DEAR SIR: There is
no question of public concern in the State,
excepting, perhaps, taxes, that touches the
interest Of more citizens than that of public
highways, and none that has received much
less consideration and calls more loudly for
reform. It is just cause for rejoicing on the
part of the people of the State that this SUBJ
iect has arrested the attention of Senator M.
G.. Butler, as appears from his letter to you
of 10Th April ultimo. 1t is indeed one that
may worthily command his earnest study.
If he can and will propose an acceptable
scheme that will secure to the State good
public roads he will accomplish a task that
will do more to establish and perpetuate his
fame as a statesman than all he has hereto
fore done and this say without intending
to depreciate in the least the lustre Of the
civic crown he has won and wears. His
statue, erected at the expense ofthe State,
should stand at the front door to our Capitol
to remind all who enter there that the peO-
pie of South Carolina admire and value
more that statesmanship which is produc-
tive of practical results than that of a more
brilliant but less meritorious type which
cultivates and manipulates parties for party
ends.
Fully impressed as am that the road law
is defective, and as now administered is al
most total failure, especially in the shoal
water regions of the State, there still turks
in my mind the suspicion that this failure
is not so much the fault of the law as it is of
sthe will and spirits of the citizens, whose
self interest as well as patriotism was ex-
pectedI to nerve them up to its execution.
In other words, if the County Commits
siOners of every county were alive to its I'M
portance of this subject, and if competent,
Jealous earnest men were made superinten-
dents and overseers, and the citizens gener-
ally were strenuous in demanding the en-
forcement of the law as it now is, would not
our public highways in one year be put in
condition superior to any we have hereto
fore enjoyed, with the cheering prospect of
continued yearly improvements till all
would reach the perfection of turnpikes?
Think of the vast resources of labor now
placed by law at the command of those en-
trusted with this great interest Every
bodied man between 16 and sc years OF
age, with some exception, is made liable to
road duty for twelve days in each year, if
demanded. Chester county, with an area OF
| 500 square miles, can call out not less than
4 1000 men. Put days work at ten hours
and it amounts to 12Ohours of labor for each
| hand per annum, which would make the Ia
| Dor for this purpose in Chester county equiv
alent to the constant dailylabor Of 100 hands
for the whole year: Whatever, therefore,
| 100 hands kept continually at work for the
whole year on the roads of Chester county
could accomplish should be accomplished by
the resources now at the command of those
in charge Of it's highways. tits not putting
it too strongly to say that faithful and in.
telligent application of this labor in this di.
rection would in a few years so improve our
roads and enhance the value of our land and
increase our population as to amount to a
revolution.
A large majority too of those made liable
to the assessment Of labor for road duty be.
long to class that pay no other tax to the
support of the State, but, under the loose
and thriftless methods now pursued, this
invaluable resourse is prodigally thrown
away. Indeed it seems that the listless in.
difference of the people to their own true
benefit is chargeable with much, if not
most, of the consequences in this respect
under which we daily suffer and repine,
If it be true, then, that the miserable con-
dition of our highways is attributable as
much or more to the Supine Indifference OF
the citizens to the defect of the law, the first
and most potent factor to be invoked in
order to secure reformation is the people.
How shall this be done? I suggest with
much diffidence) that much may be accom-
plished in this line if the County Commits
sioners of each county, and especially those
counties situated in the shoal water region,
call convention in the leisure season of the
year (say July or AugusD of all superinten.
| Of h iCrbII nf q
other citizens wishing to assist in the ad-
vancement of the public good, to meet and
discuss the whole subject as to the proper
location Of roads, the mode of distributing
the labor on each section, the best method
of working and draining, the best imple-
ments to be employed, the time most suita-
BILE for applying the labor, and such other
cognate questions as might be suggested.
Such convention properly handled would
Gt is bilieved) quicken and give new i'm
petus to public sentiment and demonstrate
to the people that the true way to advance
their own interest is to demand of their
officers that all of this lost labor shall be
called out and applied, submitting them
share of this task. And further, a fund of
information might be obtained as to the
number of miles of roads to be worked,
their present condition, the special Difficult
ties that may environ some sections, and
the peculiar advantages of others, and other
facts that Senator Butler now seeks from
your office, would be of infinite value to the
State for future reference.
1t is due to myself to say in conclusion
that I have been induced to address this
letter to you not solely because of my ear
nest desire for the promotion of the general
welfare of the State (Which is sufficient
excuse) but specially because Of very fire.
quent public utterances on this subject in
the last primary campaign in this county.
With great respect, am yours truly.