The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-06-04
PUBLIC ROADS.
Questions for the General
Assembly to Consider.

Nashville World:
IL is a universally conceded fact that
the pre.ent road law wholly fails to ac-
complisll that for which it was enacted
The past winter with it, unusual amour
Of wet weather brought upon us the
worst roads in the memory Of the oldes'
citizens The general combination OF
all these circumstances have made tn,
country people, all over the State, loud
mouthcd in their condemnation OF the
present law, and they now clamor for
another and better one. The law a
amended by the last Legislature, and as
it now stands, is regarded by the best
farmers Of the State as impracticable,
uninteligible and very much inferior to
the old road law There is no doubt but
that this is a question that forces itself
prominently before the next General
Assembly, and viewed in that aspect ii
is appropriate to offer few suggestions
rs to the best, most practicable and
most equitable law for maintaining the
public highways Of the State. As it isl
one with which the farmers almost ex-
clusively have to deal, it should be as
simple as possible, and free from SO
much machinery and complication. |
+ do not claim infallibility for tho suggcs-
tons and opinions shall offer by no
means, but ask fair and candid con
sideration and discussion, that thereby
the truth may be established aud good
accomplished.
All road laws prior to this time have
made us largely-yes, | might say al
most entirely dependent upon the con
tribution of labor from the poorer
classes who work as hilelings upon the
farms; vino own no proper and are rare
" ever the possessor of horse, and who
manifest no interest whatever in making
or keeping up public roads. They ans
wer the summons, but what overseer
can force them to perform honest work :?
make the assertion boldly and fear
, lessIy, and court denial, that it is
wrong, unjust and inhuman to force up
! on the poor people Of this State who
: own no land, no horse, and exc out Il
D livelihood by the hardest daily labor,
r the burden Of working and keeping up
n our public roads. In what way are
n they benefited by good roads =? Do
|, they get higher wages in community
Y where the roads are good No, sirs
II 1t is fact that in the mother country
d where the roads are as near perfection
y as anywhere in the world, labor il
d cheapest. This party Of great mora
n IDEAS" which courts the favor Of the poo
negro, red tapes him in the conventions
and poisons his mind against his EN-
e ploycr aud his opinions for his suffrage
has to this good day never spoken but il
his defence on this injustice which ha
horne heavy on him since his freedom
=, They have had the audacity to borrow
" fire from the enemies camp copying til,
ri Democratic IDEAS of the prOgrcssiv,
l. State of Alabama to utilize the convic
h labor ON public roads. Why ! the roa'
-. orders to the overseers are wanting il
y system and equity, requiring him t.
take the hands on farms of \, b and G
80 and keep the roads between two point
=, in order ms required by law, never con
-. templating the fact that at one TIM
y there may he many hirclings on thes
,, premises and at another very few, al
~ the while sLbjecting the overscer to in
-, dictmcnt for failure to keep the road il
- order, just n thief. Is this righti |
II this sure way to keep up our thorough
~ fares by the un ust burden upon thu
=, floating laborer2 In our county o
~ Robertson the owner Oft farm assesse,
\, AT 10000 pays $40 road tax, which b.,
- the lime it was through the law mach
hcry of assessment, collection and dis
. bursemcnt and reaches the road i
r. scarcely half its original amount. Now
80 suppose six men are employed on thi
-, farm at $50 per annum and board fo
!. themselves, which amount but scantil,
If supports their families, they are required
to work six days on the road if necessa
), ry, and if it is necessary 10 work more
;s in order to have prominent roads. Con
- sidering the fact that he must board
himself while at work for the public, he
contributes $40 to this enterprise, while
the landlord who owns the property
which is benefited by his work, only
: contributes So in hbor and So from
r taxation, making in all SIS. Can we
ever hope forgood roads as long as they
$ are built in this way2 No order, no in.
tcrest and no justice.
) Then what must be done? The prac.
, teal farmers are all satisfied, and speak
out that there is but one way for II sue
l cessiul operation of the roads, and that
, is by taxation. Considering this us
!. true, aud we believe it, what is the
: manner and kind Of taxation? What
|! class Of property must bear the tax I?
. What property is directly, and what in
directly interested in good roads ? The
n question needs no answer. Wagons and
teams, horses and buggies, and all
wheeled vehicles that are used for pleas
urc or profit, are directly interested,
and the real estate is indirectly interest.
ed. Good roads are essential to iaclli
@ tate travel, hence the direct interest
| teams and vehicles have in them. The
real estate is enhanced in value, hence
its interest.
Now, suppose we enact law as sim
pie as human genius can devise, and
with as few officers as possible. Let
the engineer or commissioner be elected
in every county who shall mark off ev-
cry public road, put them ont by con-