The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-14
For the Farmer and Mechanic.
Causes of our RackwardneSS.

SoUTH LOWELL, \. c., March >, SO.
Would a little criticism from a farmer
on the action or rather the non action of
of our Legislature on two of II e most
interesting aud important subjects which
has come before that body since the be
ginning of the session be out OF placeI
| allude TO the sheep interest and the
public roads. We have looked ami
looked in vain for a Legislature which
had sense, statesmanshin aud Gac ok bone
enough to do something for the farmers
in these matters for several years. until
it really seems that farmers have sunk
so low in the estimation OF the latter day
legislator that their interest is not to be
considered for a moment. Why2 Be-
cause farmers are the poorest lobbyists in
the known word.
All we ask for sheep is to allow us to
kill all dogs running at large, except In
close company with their owHe 5, or give
US a Law taxing them tthe dogs sufficient
to cover all damages done to sheep.
And az to our roads, they are a dis
grace to any civilized community, al in
tO.erable incumbrance 10 the farmer, al
most burying him in mud in the winter
and spring, the time tor him to market
his crops.
Never in the history of ans a%gricul-
tural and manufacture g community has
it been able to rise and 20 forward on
the road to thrift and prosperity until
the thoroughtares are put In a good con
dition and kept SO by a regular. uniform
and just system OF laws and the faithful
execution of those laws, and, notwith-
standing these things are SO plain and
palpable to every man who travels e..
pecially the farmer, yet it seems that
no class of men can be found 10 oppose
an improvement III our roads except leg
lslators and those only IN the halls of
legislation, for they are willing to make
a great many promises before they get
there; but they seem to entneiy forget
the farmers as soon Us they fall into the
hands of the lobby list, and fad time on
ly to attend to such legislation as Is pre-
pared and presented to them by lobby
lists. Farmers cannot throw down their
business aud go down to Raleigh in a
body and urge and express their de
sires before the legislature. they elect
men in whom they have confidence, aud
expect them to nave sense enough to see
to their interest, and integrity enough
to maintain it; but We have be u gross
~ disappointed and deceived and u
eyes are being opened, and we expect to
be a little more particular in the fu
ture.
NOTE. Now you taki-ED
Our system OF road laws are the most
unequal, unjust and iniquitous that ever
Cursed any christian community. The
man of property is dissa,i, fed; not be-
cause the system bears heavily on him,
but because the system gives HIM almost
impossible roads The poor man is
dissatisfied because nearly all the bur
dens of keeping up the roads falls on
him, and he has but little use for the
roads. We have now the sauie old sys-
TEN In vogue as before the war when men
owned slaves, worked the road with
their slaves, and the system then wa,
more just. But now farmers may Own
their thou,ands In real estate, and #
they are beyond a certain age they do
not help to keep up the road. anyway,
whatever though they use the roads
more than those who WORK them. Now,
this Is simply unjust, not right, for the
burden falls Oh that class OF our citizens
who are least able to bear it, and receive
comparatively no benefit flum the sacri
toe, while those who are most able to
bear the burden, make no sacrifice. and
yet reap nearly all the benefits. The
truth Is, 10 honest MAJ is satisfied with
the system, and it ought to be abolished.
and the roads worked by taxation or by
convict labor. | am over the age and
am exempt; yet | am willing and would
gladly see both property aud the pol
taxed enough to bridge our streams and
keep the roads In a good condition; wouli
like to see one of your long, exhaustive
and characteristic articles on this sub
ject. A FARMER. ,
NOTE.-My friend, after you have
lived six years within sight of the capi-
tol you will understand the usel, ssness
OF Writing about such matters. The
politicians control every Legislature,
and the farmers elect the politicians
ED.