The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-06-09
GRAND PRAIRIE.

The People Demand Relief from the
Improved Roads-No Facilities for
Reaching the Dallas Market.
GRAND PRAIRIE, June S. Special. l.
A petition is being circulated in this
neighborhood praying the Commissions
ers' Court to make an appropriation for
the purpose of constructing road
through Mountain creek bottom be-
tween this place and the city of Dallas.
In view of the fact that there is as pros.
ent no practicable road leading from
this place to Dallas, the petition is being
signed by every one to whom il is pre-.
ssnted. 1t is lamentable, nevertheless
true, that there is not respectable
road leading from this place to any
point except the road leading west.
The old road leading from this place
TO Dallas has been closed up by farm
and pasture fences, and the projected
route is at present utterly impossible
on account of almost bottonless chasms
and ravines which intercept it. With
present facilities it is impossible to put
the road in anything like respectable
condition. Every one realizes the fact
that public roads are public necessities,
and the public interest demands good
roads. The argument is eften advanced
that public roads should follow section
lines. So they should, when
such lines lead over practicable
routes. But when ;section lines
lead over unsurmountable SUBMITS
and across bottomless ravines, which
would cost the county untold sums of
money to fill up, dig down and bridge,
deviation from established Icustoms,
under such circumstances would not be
wrong. On the other hand, would it not
be economy TO buy right-of-way over
practicable routes, and thus save con-
slant drain upon the county treasury
Everyone wants good roads, but when
a road is projected and its best course
leads through farm or pasture, the
owner Of such farm or pasture wants as
much compensation for such right. of
way as the whole tract of land through
which the road is to run is worth
Every one who yields private rights tC
public interest should be amply com
pensated, but such compensation should
always be within the bounds of reason
IL is an evident fact that If the money
and labor which has been expended OF
tmpracticable routes had been expended
lOl llBnb-bl-WhO Ou Dbll6T BTOunu INT
public would have had better rt ads anC
an immense amount of money woulC
have been retained in the treasury
which has in many instances been worse
than wasted.
Present indications point to larg,
yield of agricultural products in this
section of the county and the adjacen
portion of Tarrant, all of which
will have to seek market a
Fort Worth, unless better facilities arr
presented than are now afforded fol
getting to Dallas. There are appropria.
tons for bridges on Mountain Creek
and an appropriation OF $1,000 tor the
construction of tho road through IN,
bottom, but the amount is inadequate I,
the demand, and will bu
half accomplish the desired end
1t is true there are ample railroad facili
ties, but to ship produce by rail would
only augment expenses and the Condi
ton would remain unchanged.
In view of the above state ments it i
hoped the board of commissioners will
consider the claims oi the Grand Prairi
people and take further action in thi
matter, which, to the people mentioned
is one OF serious consequence.