The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-11-20
County Administration.


McLENNAN is one of the richest /
and most prosperous counties in the !
state, and at the same time its admin /,
istration for twelve years has been
wise, intelligent, economical and sat
isfactory. Most of the time, since
1874, it has had money in the treas
ury. Its affairs have been certainly
well handled, and integrity, as well as
intelligence, has marked every step
of its progress. McLennan is pro-
gressive as we'll as prosperous. She
does not hesitate to spend money,
and do 1t liberally, too, when 1t is
clear that improvements are neces-
sary. However, there is one impor-
tant matter upon which our policy
has been defective to some extent,
we think. 1t is in the matter OF roads
and bridges. The soil OF this county
is both rich and deep. In dry wealth.
er we have the finest natural roads
on earth, but in wet weather we have
the worst. No really good wet
weather road-bed can ever be secured
here. However, by heavy ditching,
and by banking the earth in the mid
die of the roads, many of the graver
evils with which we contend, will be
vastly ameliorated. The sinks
and slcughs could be either
filed up or bridged SO that our roads
would never become quite impassa-
BILE. Draining, deep ditching and
gravel, where practicable, are the
measures to be used in improving the
roads in Mel ennan. Good roads has
from the beginning OF civilization
marked the status of the people. They
are one of the earliest best and most
satisfactory evidences of civilization
Much can be accomplished even in
black-waxey land in this respect, but
both labor and money in large
amounts are to be expond-
ed 20 accomplish anything
worthy of the county or of the inter-
ests to be subserved
Another equally important consid-
GRAFTON is the bridges aud crossings
Of our waterways and sloughs. Good
substantial and durable bridges
should be constructed everywhere,
or at least wherever needed. AS a
matter affecting the personal conf
fort of every citizen of the county,
the matter claims attention.
As measure affecting the
commerce and general business
of the county. it rises into an
importance which it would be hard
to over estimate. For several months
in the year there are roads
in McLennan which are
well-nigh impossible. THIS is not in
accordance with the advanced civili-
cation of the country, and it ought to
be corrected at once. Waco is the
political capital of the county, as well
as its commercial metropolis. and 1t
behooves her people of all classes to
move in this matter of road improve
ment, move as one man, and in
earnest. We ought to buy the sus-
pension bridge as well. In few
months, at farthest, we will be select
ing the officers for the county for
another term. 1t would be very
easy to make this matter
of road and bridge in
provement an issue in the election
Make our candidates and would
officers come out either in favor of OF
opposed to radical system of broad
and far-reaching improvement in
our highways.
The business men, merchants and
citizens generally of Waco, should be
most active in this matter. So far
this fall, with the fine weather pre-
vailing, we have felt but little of the
inconvenience of bad roads, but let
us tackle "wet falp and the full
force of the evil win be felt and &C.
knowledged. 1t is time to act now.