Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-02-14
MEMPHIS APPEAL
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY IA. 1883
A eoop LAW WANTED.

In reading over our country journals at
this time there is one universal croak per-
vading all the news they have TO tell about
their own neighborhood, and that croak
says, bad roads, bad roads, How many
thousands are kept in their homes for weeks
at time every winter by bad roads? The
weather is gloomy, the trees are stripped of
their foliage, the rain-drops hang from every
twig, and puddles intersect every path, and
"the road to toWn"-that is very gehenns,
in which souls and horses are tormented.
How much imprisonment at home is endured
rather than face its horrors. and inconvo
nience and almost deprivation are borne
rather than plunge into its depths. But
sometimes business is imperative, at others
home needs become too strong TO be resisted,
and the team is put TO, and the misery begins.
Painfully the poor animals plod on through
the deep, vile mud. Here and there q
treacherous hole requires the skill Of the
driver and the strength of the team. At
length, in some deep recess OF mud, that
holds on with monster-like grasp, the team
is stuck" No house near, the rain falling,
the wagon fast, the horses exhausted, and
the driver desperate. How he has 10 seize
the fence ails snd pry with all his might,
first at one wheel then at another, as he
shouts 10 the animals, endeavoriDg to incite
them to pull as be prizes up. At length the
town is gained, the business completed: then
all has TO be done and endured over again.
Winter after winter the nuisance and the
misery are borne. Is it not time for smart,
go-ahead Americans 10 ask themselves
whether this abominstion has not been
submitted TO long enough? The evil is not
IRENE diable. Give The roads q foun-
dation and a surface-then imprisonment,
privation Of comforts, and utter stand-stilI
of business are over, and winter is robbed of
half its gloom. The Legislature has the sub
ject before it, and with care a law can be
perfected that shall do justice to all, and
bring us good roads besides. The plan Of
calling out men from their work every now
and then to mend The roads must be aban-
doned, and instead of ii the money they
---- ~ the dsys hey have beeD accustomed
10 be taken from their work must be applied
10 obtain material for the roads, and the
skill that will have it put down to advan-
tage. 1t is useless TO grumble, this is what
has to be done. The loss of time, the inter-
ruption OF business, and the injury to vehicle
and team by passing over bad roads, all cost
money and bring none in. A good road
costs money also, but it pays for itself;
it saves money, it saves time, it
saves temper, and it saves domestic
discomfort. Our people must wake up to
the necessity for good roads. They have i'm
proved in many things since the new order
OF events have aroused them TO the neces-
sity of thinking more and going about their
business more skillfully and with better tools
and implements, they mnst also imprnuA in
this. One of the tools OF farmer is good
road that will allow him 10 60 where his
business requires, all the winter through. To
be prosperous and flourish he must have
good roads, and 10 get them he must heartily
support the effort making by the Legislature
and help 10 secure legislation Of the proper
character that will accomplish the end in
view.