The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1885-06-11
GRAND PRAIRIE,

The People Demand Relief from the
County Commissioners In the Way Of
Improved Roads-No Facilities for
Reaching the Dallas Market.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Juno S.-lSpecial. j
A petition is being circulated in this
neighborhooa praying tho Commission
ers' Court 10 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 pres.
ent no practicable road loading from
this place 10 Dallas, tho petition - being
signed by every one to whom 10 Is pro
sentod. II Is lamentable, nevertheless
true, that there Is not respectable
road leading from this place to any
point except tho road loading west
The old road leading from this place
10 Dallas has been closed up by farm
and pasture fences, and tie. projected
route Is at present utterly impossible
on account OF almost bottomless chasms
and ravines which intercept 1t. With
present facilities IL is impossible 20 put
the road in anything like respectable
condition. Every one realizes the fact
that public roads are public necessities,
and tho public interest demands good
roads. The argument is elton advanced
that public roads should follow section
such lines lead over practicable
routes. But when section lines
lead over unsurmountable summits
and across bottonless ravlnes, which
would cost the county untold sums oil
money TO fill up, dig down and bridge,
deviation from established ,customs,
under such circumstances, would not be
wrong. On the other hand, wouldn't not
be economy 10 buy right-oi-way over
practicable routes, and thus save con-
slant drain upon tho county treasury?
Everyone wants good roads, but when
a road is projected and its best course
leads through a farm Or pasture, she
owner of such farm or pasture wants as
much compensation for such rlght.of-
way as the whole tract of land through
which the road is to run is worth
Every one who yields private rights to
public interest should be amply com.
penssted, but such compensation should
always be- within the bounds of reason.
1t is an evident fact that if tho money
and labor which has been expended on
impr acticable routes had been expended
for yight-of-way on better ground the
public would have had better lads and
an immense amount of money would
have been retained IN the treasury,
which has in many instances been worse
than wasted.
Present indications point to a large
yield OF agricultural products in tnis
section of the county and the adjacent
portion of Tarrant, all OF which
will have to seek market al
Fort Worth, unless better facilities are
presented than are now afforded for
getting to Dallas. There are appropria-
lions for bridges on Mountain Creek,
and an appropriation of $1,000 Tor the
construction of the road through the
bottom, but the amount is inadequate &c
the demand, and will bu'
half accomplish the desired end
Ii is true there are ample-rsilroad faciii,
ties, but to ship produce by rail would
only augment expenses and the cQndi
ton would remain unchanged.
In view of the above statepents 1t is
hoped the board Of commissioners will
consider the claims OF the Grand Prairie
people and take further action in this
matter, which, to tho people mentioned
is one OF serious consequence.