Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-05-03
TIE OBSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC HIGH
WAYS.
IFrom thc Odessa Democrat. I

From the Odessa Democrat.
ANY one passing along the public roads at
the havoc the plow-scourer is committing
with the roads. What right anyone has to
make Il convenience of public property to
cover Il deficiency his own negligence has
created we have always failed to see. The
public highways are public property, as much
so US the courthouse, the county clerks Of
flee, in which the business of the county is
transacted, or the Jail in which criminals are
confined. No more right exists TO mar or de-
face one of these buildings than can be found
to tear up the roads with our plows, without
any reference as TO whether the roads are
benefited or injured by the process, AS is the
result in nine cases out of ten, when piow-
| securing becomes the order of the day As each
ensuing spring is ushered i'll.
| Section "a of the law relating to roads and
| highways, reads as follows: IF any person
or persons, shall willfully or knowingly OBJ
| struct any public road by throwing or de-
posting Usage or other brush, trees or bushes
| IN said road. or on the sides or bitches there
of, or by fencing across the same, or by plant
| ing any hedge within the lines established tor
| such road, or changing the location thereof,
otherwise than is provided for by this act, or
| shall obstruct said road or highways in any
| other manner whatever, he or they shall pay
a line of not less than twenty dollars, to be
recovered by Indictment, or by Information
before u justice of the peace; and upon trial
| of any such Indictment or information, 1t shall
only be necessary tor the prosecution to prove
that such road had been established by order
| of the county court, and that the same had
been used as public rOad.'
The entire section (34) has been quoted as
found in the statutes, as it may be Of some
benefit IN other respects beside the one under
consideration. 1t occasionally occurs that Q
piece OF road is benefited by this voluntary
blowing, but in nearly every Instance They are
lett in worse condition than II they had moi
been touched.
| Now, We do not believe that any farmer
design. dly ini'lres public road; that woult
be unreasonable, but the effect SO far The
roads are concerned is the same.
The depositing of cuttings from hedges ,anC
brush from fence corners, with the intention
of permitting IT 10 remain in bitches. or Oi
the roadside. come clearly within the pro.
hibition OF the statute. hila discussing this
subject we will mention another abuse t,
which public highways are subjected.
The law permits the use of i certain NUN
Der OF feet of the road TO he used by lem
pOrary fence, while The hedge is being grown
bat how often have We seen portion OF tn,
road thus occupied long enough to grow tw,
hedges that would keep stock from breakin!
into an enclosure, and not movement mad.
toward growing hedge.
This is all wrong, and if there is no law il
| the statutes regulating cases of the kind, tn
defect should be supplied at the next session
OF the legislature. This is written in no cap
tous, or fault-tinding spirit, but for the bene
iii of all concerned