The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1883-05-16
The Roads and HIGHWAYS.

The question OF improving the roads Of the
state has been brought into prominent dis.
The following letter from Senator Pattcr'
son OF Chester. presents considerations which
will aid greatly In The solution of the problem
which, sooner or later, the people of the State
CHESTER, s. c., May /, 1883.
Hon. H.. 7. Butler, DEAR SIR: There Is no
question Of public concern In the State. OK.
ccpting, perhaps, taxes, that touches the Inter
est of mnre citizens than that of public high
ways, aud none that has received much less
consideration and calls more loudly for re-
form. 1t Is Just cause for rejoicing on The part
of the people OF the State that this subject has
arrested the attention of Senator NJ. &. Butler,
rs appears from his letter TO you Of 10th April
ul!imn. II Is irdeed one that may worthily
command his earnest study. If he can and
will propose an acceptable scheme that will
secure to the Stale good public roads he Will
accomplish Il task that will do more TO eStab'
llSh and perpetuatc his fame as Il statesman
than all he has heretofore done: and this
say without Intending TO deprccinte In III"
least the lu>tre of the civic crown he has worn
and wears. His statue, erected ut the expense
OF the State should stand ut The front door to
our Capital to remind all who enter there that
the people OF South Carolina admire and
value more that sthteS1man>hip which Is pro-
duclive of practical results than that Of II
more brilliant but less mrritorinuS type
which cultirates and manipulates parties Tor
party ends.
Fully impressed as I ain that the road law
Is defective. and rs how administered is al
most 81 total failure. especially In tn" shoa'
water regions of the State. there Sill turks In
my mind the suspicion that this fhiiur" Is not
so much the fault Of the law as 1t is of the will
md spirits Of thu citizens, whose se'f-intrreSt
as well as patriotism was expected to nerve
them up to its execution.
In other words. il The County Commissions
erS of every county were alive To It's lfnpor-
tunce of this subject, and if~ competent, zeal
Gus earnest nen were made superintendent
n,.t .nr,npr a nd ftIn titiynnS tp1 T. ~ tnrI
StrnuouS in demanding the enforcement ni
the law rs IT. now is, would not our public
highways In one year be put In n condition
snperi"r to any, we have hcr"tn'% m"s sn Joy ri l.
improvements til all would reach The leritc'
ton OF turnpikcs?
Think If The vast resources Of labor now
placed by law st the command IF those en-.
trusted with this great Interest. Every able
bodied man between IL nnd 30 years OF age
with some exception, Is made liable to rna'i
duty for twelve days In each year. II dcmnnd
ia. Cheste: county, with I'm area Of 10 square
miles. can CAL out not less than 1000 men,
Put q days work ut ten hours and 1t amounts
to 20 hours OF labor for each hand per annum
which would make the labor for this purpose
In Chester county equivalent to the constant
daily labor OF ltN hands for the whole Year,
Whatever, therefore, 100 hands kept cGntinu'
ally at work for the whole year on the roads al
Chester county could accomplish should be
accomplished by the resources now ut The
command of those In charge Of its highways.
1t is not putting it too strongly to say that II
faithful and intelligent application OF this
labor In this direction would In afrw years ~
improve our roads and enhance the value OF
our land and increase our population as 10
! amount 10 Il revolution.
A large majority 100 OF those made liable to
the assessment Of labor for road duty belong
TO n class that pay no other tax to the support
| or the State, hut. under the loose and tIriIilcss
methods now pursued, this invaluable re-
sOurSe Is Drodigally thrown away. Indeed II
-,,>r .tnt t1,n liSIlnSc MI ifiar.y Nfn nf tln an
pie to their own true benefit IS chlrGchble
with much, If not most, Of The consequences
In this respect under which we daily suffer
and repine lfit he true, then, that the miSer-
able condition OF our highways Is attributable
rs lnucll or more to the Supinu indiirrcncr OF
tho citizens TO the uefcct Uf the law, the first
and most potent factor to be invoked In order
to secure reformation Is the people. How
shnli this be done? / suggest with muc,
difi,lrnccj that much may be accomplished
In this line If The County commissioners OF
each county. and especially those cnn"lies
| rention in the leisure season OF the year tSly
July or Au"u>t) of all superintendent and
OvcrscerS ofhighway, ,tnd of all other citizens
wishing to assist In the advancement Or the
public good. to meet and discuss the whole
subject as to the prnncr location Of roads. the
| mode Of distributing the labor on each section,
the hest method of working and draining, the
best implements to he employed. lhc tiine
most suitable for applying the labor. and such
other cOgnaic qurstiOnSaS IuiSlit he suggested.
Sucl. II convention property handled would
1T IS he.icvcd) quicken and give Il new iInrr'
t:is to public sentiment and demonstrate 10
| The people that The true way to advance their
own interest Is tn demand Of heir officers that
MI of this lost labor shall he called out ana
, nnplIrd. submitting themselves cllrrrful!y to
! tile Discharge of their share OF this task. And
further, a fun of information might be OBJ
tanned us to tho number of miles OF roads to
he worked. their present condition., the special
difficulties that may environ some sections:
and the peculiar advantages of others, ami
other facts that Senator Butler now seeks from
Your office, wOuld I've of infinite value To the
State for future reference.
Ills due to myself to say In conclusion that
J nave been induced to address this letter to
you not solely because OF my earnest desire
for the promotiOn of the general welfare OF
the State (Which is n sufficient eXcnSe) but
specially because OF very frequent public
utteiarcrs on this subject In the last primary
campaign In this county.
With great respect. ! am yours truly.
GILES J. PATTERSON.